Area of Study 1: Food around the world (extract below taken from the VCE Food Studies Study Design
In this area of study students explore the origins and cultural roles of food, from early civilisations through to today’s industrialised and global world. Through an overview of the earliest food production regions and systems, students gain an understanding of the natural resources, climatic influences and social circumstances that have led to global variety in food commodities, cuisines and cultures with a focus on one selected region other than Australia. The practical component explores the use of ingredients available today that were used in earlier cultures. It also provides opportunities for students to extend and share their research into the world’s earliest food-producing regions, and to demonstrate adaptations of selected food from earlier cuisines.
Lesson Sample
In alignment with the content, students selected an ancient grain that they researched, tracked its historical origins and how the grain was distributed across the globe from ancient to current times. In the sample Material Test, our students focused on buckwheat and decided to have a go at making their own soba (buckwheat noodles).
The results were surprising – they concluded that the homemade noodles made in the Thermomix TM were equal in flavour, texture and as cost effective as the commercial variety. The home made noodles kneaded by hand remained sticky and difficult to manage when rolled through the pasta machine.
Selected grain- buckwheat
Panko and Sesame-crusted Tofu Noodle Salad
Materials Test comparing Homemade buckwheat noodles and Commercial Soba Noodles (3 variations) using the recipe below
- Commercial soba noodles
- Homemade noodles kneaded by hand
- Homemade noodles made in a ThermomixTM
Buckwheat Noodles
Use a ratio of 4:1 Buckwheat flour: Plain (all-purpose flour)
2 cups of buckwheat flour
½ cup plain flour
¾ – 1 cup of water
Additional flour for kneading
The results were tested using the following recipe Panko and Sesame-crusted Tofu Noodle Salad
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