Cooking up success at Vineyard Ranch

Victoria Taylor is a Vineyard Ranch Elementary School Bronco.

But Victoria also wants you to know she’s a Junior Sous Chef.

She loves to cook.

Chicken Alfredo Pasta is her favorite dish.

The fourth-grader has spent the past several months honing her craft.

Now, her passion in the kitchen is making a difference in the classroom.

“When you cook, you have to use your brain,” said Victoria. “You have to measure stuff which is basically science and math. You need to know how much food you need. So, that is helping me with math right now.”

Her teachers have been impressed with how much her cooking is helping her stay focused in the classroom.

“What I have seen personally is that she truly is more focused and interested in learning in her classes so she can apply that to her cooking,” said Vineyard Ranch Teacher Morgan Hill. “She is excited about her math time now because she knows she needs to be skilled in math when creating recipes. She is thinking about her future and how to be her best self now to meet goals.”

Recently, Victoria was asked to host an online cooking segment by the San Antonio Public Library. Victoria’s entire class tuned in to watch and support her.

She showed the audience how to make bangarang shrimp tacos using Flaming Hot Cheetos as a secret ingredient. 

Next month, Victoria is working on a large Thanksgiving meal for people in need.

So, the Vineyard Ranch Cafeteria Manager, Lucy Jimenez, showed Victoria around the school’s kitchen and shared some tips and tricks to serving large crowds. 

“It warmed my heart to talk with Victoria about her plans,” said Jimenez. 

Victoria hopes to start a restaurant someday.

She is following her dreams #theNEISDway.