Ovens flicker on, refrigerators hum softly, and the smells of culinary delights fill the air. These are the sensations that greet students taking Brandon Harris’ cooking class.

   At the beginning of this year, students in the BASIS program on campus had the opportunity to choose a culinary class as an elective. The class teaches students both basic and advanced life skills surrounding the art of cooking, with lessons ranging from working kitchen supplies, to learning what makes food taste better with spices.

   Brandon Harris teaches the twelve students currently enrolled. 

   “I was presented with an opportunity to modify our curriculum with more impactful results based to the students in our program,” Harris said.

   The class is in room B1, has ovens, long tables for students and a refrigerator. With this equipment, they have made delicious foods such as jalapeno jam and spice rubs.

   The class sells Spice Rubs such as simple BBQ and steak spices at the Poway Farmers Market and they often sell out their inventory. 

   Students who want to get better at their cooking skills can bond over their shared interests while learning how to make food as delicious as possible. “It’s enjoyable because we cook almost every week and we can eat the food afterwards,” sophomore Kylie O’Dell said.

   In addition to the life experience, the class itself promotes partnerships between the students taking the course. 

   “I like the class because you get to collaborate and make dishes with those around you,” sophomore Miguel Monreal said.