MHS Culinary Arts Class stars in "Beauty and the Beast. Really..."

The Malta Culinary Arts class has been tasked with a very important mission.

The mission if they chose to except it (and they did) was to prepare a six course meal for the Malta High School Dinner Theatre, which is on Monday November 25 and an encore performance the following day Tuesday November 26 at 7:00 p.m. on both days.

For those who want to partake in the meals, the food will be served in Malta High School's cafeteria, with hors d'oeuvres starting at 5:45 p.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m.

The event is ADULTS ONLY, which makes for a great date night for couples as well as for singles who want quality entertainment.

The unseen heroes of the day will be both Malta High Culinary Arts classes, led by teacher Mrs. Becky Bruce.

The PCN caught up with a couple of these heroes, who are out to prove they are not afraid to accept the challenge.

"Today we're making apple pies for the Dinner theatre," 16-year-old student Ostin Welch said.

Under normal circumstances cooking for such an event would make boys his age shudder, but Welch isn't nervous.

"It's just cooking. I've always cooked so it should be easy," Said Welch who has been cooking since his first experience with a grilled cheese at the ripe age of ten.

"I have a lot of siblings and I've always cooked for them," he continued.

Though his skills are limited to the menu on the night, Welch claims the best thing he has ever cooked was in the field of dessert.

"The best thing I've ever cooked was either cherry cheesecake or pumpkin rolls.

The cheesecake is self explanatory, but the pumpkin dessert includes a cooked dough that encases ice cream.

He is most looking forward to the preparation of appetizers, which will include bruschetta, crustini, Baguette canapes and crab puffs.

Other aspects of the menu include an apple green salad, mashed potatoes, mushroom pork scallopini, fresh baked mini bread loaves and the aforementioned apple pie.

Senior Mickayla Olsen is another Culinary Arts student that isn't intimidated by the menu she is helping to prepare.

She hasn't seen the menu yet, but on the day the team of students were working on apple pie, she admitted she wasn't a fan.

"I'm not that big of a fan of apple pie," said Olsen, who apparently is a purist when it comes to fruit. "I don't like cooked fruits in my pies."

Though she isn't completely on board with the apple pie, she vows to make her dish tasty for those who enjoy the treat.

"I'm going to try to get everything right," she said. "You got to have a lot of sugar in it to make it sweet and not bitter."

If there were a pie she would rather prepare for the event, it would be her favorite. Chocolate pie.

She could only describe chocolate pie in one word.

"Yum."

She like Welch lays claim to the fact that she cooks a lot for her family.

"I've always cooked. When I'm home, I usually make the supper. A lot of times.

Her specialty? Cajun Chicken Alfredo.

The spices she uses for the dish is a family secret called , "Great on Everything."

"It's a spicy seasoning, that's red with a bunch of peppers in it," she said.

The first thing she ever made, wasn't your typical fried egg, her first meal ever cooked was Chicken noodle soup.

"We make homemade noodles so it tastes a lot better," she explained.

Now that you've learned about only a small fraction of the team, let's talk about the play.

"The dinner is to bring more people to our show," Anna LaBrie, the Art teacher at Malta High told the PCN.

The show called "Beauty and the Beast. Really...

"It's Beauty and the Beast, but there's a twist to it," LaBrie said.

Playing the role of Beauty, is Daphne Johnson.

The sister, Lula will be portrayed by Madison Morris.

The father will be played by John Waters.

The mother will be played by Kari Koss.

The Beast will be played by Palmer Giblette.

Amanda Mummey, Adam Mummy and Dom Jenkins are also acting.

Devyn Salsbery and Drew Nagy are the choreographers for the play.

The Music will be directed by Mr. Larry Swingen.

For more information and to buy tickets before the event contact Malta High School at 654 2002.