Tucked behind the cafeteria is the space where San Marcos High’s culinary elective takes place. The class taught by Mrs. Donna Barker is one of a kind, with her warm teaching ways allowing the students plenty of space to experiment with many different recipes.

Culinary at San Marcos is a three course elective. The majority of students start as sophomores. Culinary 1 covers the basics of the chemistry of food. Mrs. Donna teaches students everything about the science behind softening butter to why you shouldn’t open the oven repeatedly while baking something. Eventually, in Culinary 3, students earn the freedom to try making many different preparations.

One morning, I spent an hour in the class observing the students. In one corner, a group of three were decorating French macarons. By the stovetop, another few were sauteeing brown butter sage gnocchi. In this classroom, students truly are allowed to access imagination by experimenting with many different flavors and ingredients. Because many of the culinary students have had the same class together year after year, they have a special bond. Whenever one has finished a dish, they always kindly offer samples to other students.

“My favorite thing to make is pastries, because it’s a challenge,” said Angeles Rodriguez. “I’ve made cream puffs and macarons, but my next goal is to make croissants.”

At the end of the second semester, about ten Culinary 2 and 3 students are selected to cater the Entrepreneurship’s Appfolio event for approximately 200 guests. Together they curate a menu, prepare the food, and present it in an aesthetically pleasing way.

“The skills I’ve learned through our Culinary course are extremely useful and will benefit me in many aspects.” said senior Soleil Paszkeicz. “Donna is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. She’s genuine and just a good person.” If you are a freshman interested in creativity through cooking, you should really consider culinary.