MARLBOROUGH – Chef T. was on the move.
In between bites from an appetizer grabbed from a tray or two, Louis Trudeau guided groups of students through the kitchen at Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School.
He chatted with instructors, chefs and his Culinary Arts students as they prepared samples.
Trudeau was the center of a food trade show on Oct. 25, that gave students from 12 school districts a taste of culinary arts.
“It’s an opportunity for students to see a food show,” said Trudeau.
Because of age limits, students are normally not allowed to attend these shows.
More than 135 students from vocational programs across the state came to Assabet for the event, including Blackstone Valley, Blue Hills Regional, Waltham High, Nashoba Tech and Pioneer Regional.
In the kitchen, Assabet chefs joined Executive Chef Americo DeFronzo from Union Oyster House and chief Victorian Kinzel from Buck and Bloom in conducting workshops on how to cook steak, grilled oysters and other items.
There were also stations with items from event sponsors; one station featured chipotle macaroni and cheese with sponsor Louisiana Pepper Exchange.
“I like it [the program] pretty well,” said Doran Wentzell, an Assabet sophomore from Marlborough.
He helped make the mac and cheese complete with bread crumb topping with Joao Oliveira, an Assabet sophomore from Hudson.
In the Epicurean Room, Assabet’s student-run restaurant, food brokers from different companies set up shop, offering samples from bread to onion rings to plant-based chicken.
“It really brings real-world experience to students,” said Trudeau.
The event was sponsored by Avidia Bank, Piantedosi Bread, the Better Business Bureau, Rotary International and the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
