ABOUT THE TEACHER

Hello and welcome to Roosevelt Culinary Arts!

My name is Ben Rengstorf. I’m the teacher for culinary education at Roosevelt High School. I completed a degree in education from the University of Minnesota (Spanish and ELL) in 2006, and have been a classroom teacher ever since. In 2017, I received a degree in Culinary Arts from Saint Paul College, and I am currently working on a degree in Sustainable Food Systems from Prescott College. I’m passionate about education as well as food, so it is an honor and joy to bring them together in this program.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM  

Roosevelt Culinary Arts is a nationally

award-winning program whose mission is to empower students through holistic food education that nourishes ourselves, our communities and the earth. All students are welcome in Roosevelt Culinary Arts, whether brand new or experienced in the kitchen. This class is for students that are interested in a job/career working with food, as well as anyone looking to expand home cooking knowledge.

We offer three semester long courses: Culinary Arts Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. In each level, we explore in more depth the role food plays in our lives and our cultures. We analyze recipes, practice all sorts of cooking techniques, and get familiar with a wide range of cooking equipment. We study cuisines and chefs from around the world, and we work towards food justice and sustainability for

humans and Mother Earth. This includes students planning and serving community meals.

In addition to gaining expertise in the kitchen, students learn lifelong job readiness skills, are exposed to career opportunities in all sorts of food related industries, and get to experience the entire food system first-hand in partnering with the Roosevelt Urban Farming classes.

Here are examples of the transformative learning opportunities happening in our classroom:

https://youtu.be/7i14ua1R1EU

https://youtu.be/KrAXrF3piQ8