The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s executive chef John Beriker recently completed an eight-week cooking program with students at R. Roger Rowe School in Rancho Santa Fe. The lunch club, which featured approximately 20 students in grades four, five, and eight, met every Thursday with Beriker for hands-on sessions in which they learned about healthy, organic ingredients. “The goal is to give a basic foundation so that these students can learn to cook at home,” notes chef Beriker, “and so they can help their parents.” He shared cutting techniques and how to “put stuff together, including healthy salad dressings,” with the hopes of steering kids away from the mac ‘n’ cheese and chicken strips that are all too prevalent in today’s world. Beriker hopes to continue the program next year when school is back in session. MIA STEFANKO
