Every morning, break, and lunch nutritious food awaits those Wildcats who want it prepared by our cafeteria staff. But, have you ever thought about how the food at Ukiah High is prepared?
Ukiah High News went behind the scenes to get a firsthand look at the men and women who work hard to keep us fed night and day.
We checked into the school’s industrial kitchen at 8:30 on a Monday morning and found the staff baking chocolate chip muffins and 6 different types of pizzas. On top of that, they were preparing burgers both regular and vegan.
We watched as the hectic kitchen managed to keep things organized and clean, washing towels and aprons, wiping everything down, and following their daily food orders making sure they have enough for teachers, staff, children and themselves.
Can you imagine preparing so many meals for thousands of high school students? This is the daily reality of the dedicated chefs working behind the scenes at Ukiah high. They are the hidden gems who transform fresh ingredients into nourishing meals, ensuring that every student receives a nutritious and delicious lunch, day in and day out.
There are many roles in the kitchen outside of those that handle food preparation. Some staff manage the budgets and make all the recipes inputting them through a sophisticated computer system that analyzes and breaks down the nutritional contents making sure the foods they serve are up to standard
Ukiah High’s kitchen staff is a dedicated crew with some working here for 19 years. Many begin their shift at 5:30 in the morning and some work into the evening hours.
Can you imagine what it’s like working at one place for such a long time? The connection you build with the environment, the staff and the children watching students grow from being seeds to blooming into wonderful young adults.
One of the cooks that we interviewed said, “It’s all about seeing the kids’ faces while they grab their food, the small conversations they have and the small smiles on their faces”.
In this large-scale operation, teamwork is very important. The staff in the kitchen stay focused and bring their best selves possible, everyone tuned in and in their zone doing their jobs ensuring that every part of their fully oiled machine runs efficiently and smoothly.
The kitchen staff at Ukiah High School still manages to communicate with each other working as if they are doing what’s necessary in maintaining the preparation of meals, understanding, and helping each other while still finding time to bond with students.
But it’s not all about the daily grind. There are moments of fun that make the job memorable. Elaina, a cook at Ukiah High, recounted a particularly funny incident: “The first time I made chow mein, I bent over to scoop up all the ingredients and ended up tearing my shirt. It was definitely one of my funniest moments.”
It’s these moments that bring a touch of humor and humanity to the demanding role, reminding us that even amid hectic meal preparations, there’s always room for a good laugh.
Ischei Mcleod
Ischei Mcleod was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She recently relocated to live in Ukiah, California. The move was sudden for her but she's trying her best to get comfortable. She decided to join the journalism class at the Ukiah High School because she’s always been interested in writing and reading literature. Ischei is not a very outgoing person; she prefers to write to express her thoughts and feelings. She is really eager to learn about journalism and all its qualities. In the future she would like to travel and documentate on all the beautiful and unique sights, people and culture she comes across.