From Garden to Gourmet!

Chef Farid Zadi of the Ecole de Cuisine Culinary Arts
School harvests food from the garden!

Students at Central High School in the Mar Vista Housing Projects were pleasantly surprised and delighted when Susan Park and Chef Farid Zadi of the Ecole de Cuisine Culinary Arts school visited their classroom in October.  Susan and Farid, who have also recently opened a restaurant in Culver City, shared with students about about how they started their business, the importance of eating locally grown sustainable foods, and caring for urban gardens.

Susan and Chef Zadi were so thrilled with the students that they have volunteered to return at least once per month to lead cooking demonstrations and help students grow their healthy vegetables in their school garden.  Areas like the Mar Vista Housing Projects are deprived of many healthy options for food, but Ecole de Cuisine that may all change.  In exchange for their help, some of herbs and vegetables like thyme, mint, oregano and Swiss chard will donated to their culinary school.  View a slideshow of their visit here.