The pandemic created the conditions for an explosion in online learning, with cooking and baking high on the list of new at-home hobbies. Punahou Alumni Association Hawai‘i offered three virtual cooking classes in the summer and fall of 2021, with more scheduled in 2022.
Attendees joined from their own kitchens – many in different time zones – to create the same guided recipe with an alumni chef. Some took the classes as a couple or with small groups of friends, and the live format allowed for a shared sense of community. Recordings of all the classes were also offered to alumni who selected the on-demand option.
Kalo Flatbread
Chef Mark “Gooch” Noguchi ’93
Chef Gooch was joined in the kitchen by his daughter, Frankee. Together, they prepped and rolled the dough and then baked a warm, kalo flatbread.
Middle Eastern Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Olive Oil and Za’atar
Angèl Vardas ’93 Foster of Island Olive Oil
Angèl and best friend Alison Hodges ’93 Lazzara educated about global varieties of olive oil, many of them found in her retail store, Island Olive Oil, at Ward Centre. The duo assembled a delicious Middle Eastern Salad which showcased Angèl’s aromatic oil and homemade Za’atar.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Mousse Pie
Jenny Ching ’11 of Laulima Kitchen
Jenny’s Laulima Kitchen offers gluten-free virtual cooking classes specifically designed for those affected by Celiac Disease. The chocolate mousse pie recipe she shared with Punahou alumni – a favorite of Jenny’s mom – featured a light and airy mousse over a crushed gluten-free Oreo crust.