Fall is in the air at our Harvest Kitchen training program — and we are feeling it! Apple season is here! Over the past few weeks, we have been putting apples in everything. From apple tartlets to our famous apple chips the team strove to beautify our B-grade apples from Steere Orchard in Greenville, RI. Very soon you can expect to see apple chips at our local foods cafe in Pawtucket weekdays 8am-3pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm at the Farm Fresh Winter Market in Pawtucket. Or stop into the cafe for an apple fritter this week!
When they’re not experimenting with apples, our trainees found time to give back to the community. Both our morning and evening groups of youth trainees took a day to assist at Southside Community Land Trust’s Galego Court community garden as they prepared for winter. They managed to clear a large area that will allow the farm to put in a new, more functional greenhouse.
Back at the kitchen, our morning group wanted to put their skills to the test! In a friendly competition, two teams were tasked with creating one complete dish of their choice. Both groups came up with recipes that struck close to home, rice and beans with homemade sofrito (also known as sofregit, soffritto, or refogado, it’sa sauce used as a base in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Latin American cooking). The only difference was the choice of protein, which made judging exceptionally difficult. Ultimately, it was the teamwork displayed and the attention to detail that pulled J&J&J&Z’s beef dish into a win!
The trainees are already vying for a rematch in the coming weeks, and the afternoon group can’t wait to put their feet in the ring when they get more experience.
