Olympia’s Advanced Foods class, taught by Ms. Liz Kirby, went on a field trip Tuesday to learn about local food markets and to pick up ingredients for the students’ final recipes.

The OHS foods two students learned many things, including information about co-op food markets. The students were also supposed to collect ingredients on a budget to create their final recipe for the year.

Their first stop was at Green Top Grocery in Bloomington.   “I took the class to GreenTop Grocery where we learned about a food co-op, which is where a bunch of people put their money together to start a store. The students had to choose a local ingredient to cook with,” said Ms. Kirby.

Following the Green Top Grocery stop, the students traveled over to the Olive Bin. At the Olive Bin, the students were able to sample oils and vinegars. The students were instructed to choose an oil or vinegar to use in their final recipe.  The class learned many things on how a co-op food market works, along with how a fresh market functions. The students were also able to experience new oils and vinegars, which helped them in their decision for their final recipe.

After the Olive Bin, the class ate lunch at Braize, a restaurant in Normal that features local products. Once the class finished at Braize, they went to Walmart to finish getting supplies for their final recipe.

Ms. Kirby hopes the students understood, “The main goal of the field trip was to highlight local ingredients--that's why I had them chose ingredients at Green Top. And they also had to create a dish based on the ingredients they chose to show what they have learned from taking foods one and foods two.”

OHS senior Nick Siscoe enjoyed the field trip and also gained some knowledge of budgeting. “I learned how to budget buying food for a recipe. I also enjoyed going out to eat with all of my friends.”