Chicago chef inspires Billings, Lockwood students to expand horizons with cultural cuisine

Lockwood High School’s food service provider, Chartwells K12, provided more than school lunch on Wednesday — they sponsored a celebrity chef takeover.

Chartwells' Global Eats program introduces a world of ethnic flavors and traditions to students, with celebrity chef classroom demonstrations followed by a cafeteria lunch inspired by each country.

Teacher Bethany DeHart’s pastry and baking class swapped out flour and sugar with chips and salsa Wednesday morning. More than 20 students crowded around the classroom’s kitchen counter, as Chicago-based chef Jonathan Zaragoza demonstrated how to make a breakfast staple from his childhood — chilaquiles.

“This is a Saturday morning thing my mom used to make for us,” Zaragoza told the class. “I like doing this recipe for you guys because it’s so simple. And who doesn’t have chips and salsa at home?”

Zaragoza has partnered with Chartwells K12 for their Global Eats program since 2018. He’s been traveling from school to school sharing Mexican culture through food for about four or five school years now.

Zaragoza is one of about a dozen renowned chefs touring classrooms and cafeterias nationwide now, representing countries from around the world. Zaragoza is making stops at Senior and Skyview High Schools this week, as well.

“It’s to inspire the kids to go out and travel and learn new things and try new stuff,” Zaragoza said.

Interacting with the kids is Zaragoza’s favorite part of his demonstrations. He passes the ingredients around for students to taste as he uses them and gets them involved in the process.

When class started Wednesday, hardly a hand was raised when he'd asked if they knew what chilaquiles were, but by the end of the hour, they were all familiar — and curious — each crowding around the finished plate for a taste.

“I think as a chef, it’s a big thing for us to make sure the next generation is getting the skills that we learned. You give it back to the game a little bit. I think the kitchen kept me young up here,” he said, gesturing to his head. “You need that childlike sense of wonder.”

Zaragoza also takes the opportunity to try to inspire kids to dream big about their futures, through his own humble origin story.

Growing up on the south side of Chicago, Zaragoza said he never thought he’d see the north side of the city, let alone get to travel the world as a celebrity chef.

“My story hopefully resonates with them, because I came from an underserved community … and hopefully I can just be a little reminder that you can do this, you can be successful and live a good life and go see the world if you want that,” he said.

“My biggest thing is just making sure that they find something that they love and go for it,” Zaragoza continued.

His advice to the students: “The only way to learn, guys, is to make mistakes. Honestly, nothing’s gonna come out the first time … Perfection is the enemy of progress. Just get it done, and then start working on the next thing, and then you start learning. And that’s what honestly worked for me in cooking.”