THE sweet aroma of caramelised coconut creme brulee, complemented the scent of chicken and mince pasties with tomato salsa yesterday, wafting through the halls of Taree High School.
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The smell was the work of 15 year 11 hospitality students, expertly guided by Senegalese migrant and local identity Linguere Bischofberger, as part of the African Festival (Africa comes to the Manning) that's currently running around the area.
The students were enthralled by Linguere, a flamboyant and outgoing teacher, as she demonstrated and spoke of her passion for food and cooking.
"Cooking requires creativity and everyone has their own unique style," she explained.
"Creativity in the kitchen means you can use any ingredients and work them together."
For two hours the students worked on the dishes, asking questions of Linguere who was more than willing to share tips and tricks with her audience.
Linguere grew up in Senegal before moving to France and then sailing to Australia and she said food has always been a big part of her life.
The cooking class is just one of the culturally rich events planned throughout the festival and follows a highly successful launch on Sunday, held at Manning Regional Art Gallery.
There will also be guest speakers giving addresses around the area, more cooking, videos, art, and story telling.
For a full run down of the program and to follow how the events are going, visit the official website http://africacomestothemanning.blogspot.com.au