Teacher Adds a Dash of Love for Cooking

This is Tara Zakeer’s first year as the family and consumer science teacher at H-D-CAL High School, but she’s no stranger to the culinary world.

For the last thirty years, she has worked in restaurants, country clubs and in catering. But cooking was always her second job, she said, as she primarily worked with children in group homes and as a teacher. Her new job at H-D-CAL High School has allowed her to combine her two greatest passions: working with children and whipping up delicious dishes.

“I love kids and I love to cook so this perfect,” she said.

According to Zakeer, who’s originally from Hampton, her students with the Bulldog Cafe have done a great job this year, with many volunteering to stay after class to help prepare ahead of each cafe. So far, they’ve held three cafes this year, and their fourth is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, which will start at 11:30 a.m. On the menu for Friday: chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, street corn and chocolate flan.

“We are having it in the new atrium now so it is super nice with convenient parking and a great way for people to see the new space,” she told the Chronicle.

Tickets for Friday, which are going for ten dollars a piece, can be purchased through Bound or by calling the front office at the high school at 641-456-4893.