Flavors of the World

Get yourself organized
Task	Process	Worksheet	Assignment	Competition	Game

Introduction

You are the executive chef for the United Nations. In one week you have scheduled a large international buffet for ambassadors from 5 different countries. This morning you came to work and found that the kitchen had been sabotaged and all the labels have been taken off of the spice bottles and rice bins. The recipes that you have organized by countries have been erased of the hard drive. You know that each ambassador has been missing their homes and looking forward to experiencing familiar flavors of their countries.

Task

Your task will be to:

Analyze information about flavors and ingredients that create a unique flavor of a culture.
Gain knowledge of how rice is prepared in different areas of the world.
Make recommendations to the executive chef on menu items appropriate for international buffet.
Prepare a recipe to be judged by the United Nations executive committee for the final approval.

This procedure will answer the question:

What will you serve at the international buffet to help all quests enjoy their evening?

Background for everyone

Why does rice taste different in Thailand or Italy? What makes the difference; both of these countries are using the same grain. Or are they??

Rice is one of the oldest grains of the world. This is a staple food for more than half of the world's population and is also the most important food item in the daily diet throughout Asia. Read about the history and nutritional value of rice. One of the reasons that rice tastes different is that it is. There are so many varieties of rice. Another reason for the cultural flavors is the blending of spices that each culture uses. Each development team will be learning about the spice blends and will share their findings.

The process

The group will be divided into recipe development and testing teams of 3. Each member will have an important part in the development of the final buffet recipe.

Each group will be given a country to investigate and record the discoveries of cultural flavors.

Countries

· Thailand

· Italy

· Jamaica

· Mexico

· India

· Greece

· Sri Lanka

· Africa

Well, let's get cooking!!!!

The recipe development groups and job descriptions

Recipe Specialist:

This person will have prior cooking knowledge. (Second year student)

They are to:

o Keep all the investigation moving along. (Remember the event is very soon)

o Formulating ideas about the cultural seasoning for their country.

o Train other team members how to present a grocery list to procurement so that ingredients are delivered from the purveyor on time.

o Train other team members how to prepare a standardized recipe to present to the chef.

Computer Navigator:

This person will have prior experience using the PC and the Internet.

They are to:

o Have the responsibility to navigate through the web quest with the direction from the recipe specialist.

o Type and save any and all documents that need to be turned in to the teacher.

o Be responsible for the computer equipment and the station.

Recorder:

This person will have the ability to organize, stay on task, and have good penmanship.

They are to:

o Fill out any worksheets in collaboration with the other team members.

o Make sure that the group is staying on task and meeting the target deadlines.

The heat is on!!!!

The ambassadors will be here soon.

The following information will help your team fill out the (download MS version of worksheet) worksheet. Get ideas about flavors and human senses and learn the science of cooking rice as well as general tips for rice. Refer to your Pro-Start textbook year 1 and learn the definition of spices and herbs.

You are at a full boil now!!!!!

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Now that you have a great deal of basic knowledge, you are ready to find out about your country.

Find some ideas of cultural spice blends and general ethnic flavors. You need to have your reporter keep notes and the recipe specialist help to formulate ideas. To develop more in-depth knowledge you should look at sites for your specific country. Look at some recipes from your country and this will give you ideas of ethnic flavors blends

Group assignment: Decide to prepare a visual to represent the spices that are found in the country.

Choose one

o A map of the country and were it is in the world. Use the real/natural spices and herbs to fill in the map. Include a key.

o A collage of names and pictures of spice flavors and herbs. Include the colors of the country and a interesting design.

o A graphic organizer, which reflects all the flavor blends of the country, using the computer program Inspiration.

Once your team has learned

· Spice blends that reflect the county's culture

· Which rice varieties represent the county's cultures

· The proper ways to cook rice

· And general tips on rice

You should now be ready to decide on a rice recipe to present to the executive chef.

Guidelines while searching for recipes.

Read the entire recipe and

· Check that it can be done in one class period

· That it includes the major spices that you have discovered

· That it includes the Varity of rice that you have found to be part of this ethnic group

Try some of the following sites to take a look at recipes.

o Recipes from around the world using rice

o World regional recipes

o International recipes

o Many sites for international recipes

o You may also take a look at the cookbooks in the class library.

Choose one recipe and have it approved by the teacher.

Work with the recipe specialist and learn to write a standardized recipe form and grocery list.

The final writing activity.

· Prepare an invitation for the international event to be sent to the ambassador of the country.

· Each student will compose, edit, and make a final copy of the invitation on the computer.

· The invitation should be on one page in any format, include a picture or a boarder.

The invitation must include:

Name of the event

Date and time of event

A full menu appropriate for the countries cuisine include:

Appetizer

Entree

Side

Dessert or Beverage

A final personal note to the ambassador showing your knowledge and interest in their culture and your excitement in having them attend the event.

On competition day

o Have visual ready

o Full uniform on

o Prepare rice dish

o Garnish and have ready for executive committee to approve

o All recipes will be ready for tasting at the same time

o All displays should be set up with visual, labeled spices, samples of raw rice used, and invitation

When all the rice dishes are approved, the executive chef can rest easy and make up the work schedule for the event. We must remember to re-ladle the spice bottles and the rice bins. And of course up date the computer.

Thanks for your help in saving the United Nations special event!!!

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An extra activity for your class

Play this scavenger hunt game when all teams are ready.

All team receive a worksheet

Have all computer navigators ready.

Start timer and GO! Game Sheet

Conclusion

You have now successfully saved the buffet. You have worked in recipe teams learning how to blend spices and ingredients to create ethnic flavors. You have prepared your recipes in a professional manner and participated in a tasting competition. This research should have now shown how large and different the world is but also show you how much we are all are alike in the foods we enjoy. Think about the similarities of all the different cultures and how the same spices can be blended to create different flavors.

Evaluation

Evaluation Worksheet