THE COOKERY SCHOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1940, Page 8

THE COOKERY SCHOOL

AMERICAN ENTERPRISE. Wc are all acquainted with the useful and rather jolly cookery classes held in most girls’ schools, but lew of us know anything about the free cookery schools held from time to time in the villages of America. The result of the co-operation of local tradespeople, a large hall is converted into a dream kitchen, with seating accommodation for interested housewives who come from miles round. Every visitor is handed a programme. giving full details of the lecture and demonstrations for the day. On the programmes are the names of the tradespeople who have helped to make the cookery school possible, and here we learn that the blue and white check curtains are by courtesy of Broadbent Bros.; the aluminium and hardware utensils by courtesy of Higden’s Hardware: the flowers cheering the room by the Elite Flower Shop. Every part of the furnishing and decorating is supplied by some merchant. Music is played while the audience assembles, and the president of the Chamber of Commerce introduces the cooking lecturer. The lecturer is usually a member of a food laboratory, and has the ability to give facts in a charming manner. As she goes through the course she is assisted by members of the audience —perhaps by several newly marrieds when roasting chicken, or by one or two great-grandmothers while making puff pastry. When she asks questions correct answers win for the members small cooking utensils, and prizes are given to such as have a name beginning with Z, or a birthday falling that day. Year after year people come especially io attend the cookery school, returning home with fresh interest in the humdrum routine of housekeeping.