Eva Gorman and Ruby Reese work with Chef Paul Stearman at Bistro 112 on Oct. 13. Photo by Ainsley Hall

SHEPHERDSTOWN — On Oct. 13, members of Girl Scout Troop 15099 visited Bistro 112 to learn how to make pasta from scratch and earn their Simple Meals Badge.

Chef Paul Stearman showed them what it takes to work in a professional kitchen, while also developing life skills they can use at home.

There are several steps Girl Scouts must go through as they earn their Simple Meals Badge. That includes touring a kitchen with a professional chef, cooking breakfast, making a healthy lunch or dinner, creating a dessert and designing their own meal.

Troop leader Angelina Gray reached out to chef Paul Stearman from Bistro 112 and scheduled a time for her scouts to walk around the restaurant and learn more about cooking. While they were there, Stearman learned that to finish their badge, the girls were going to cook a meal for their awards banquet a week later. He invited them to visit again, so he could teach them how to make pasta from scratch.

Gray was excited for the opportunity for her troop to learn new skills. A week later, the girls were back in the kitchen wearing aprons and ready to work.

Members of Girl Scout Troop 15099 chop bread to make croutons at Bistro 112 on Oct. 13. Photo by Ainsley Hall

“Foundationally, Girl Scouts are all about teaching girls four pillars: STEM, outdoor skills, life skills and entrepreneurship,” Gray said. “This is a chance to develop those life skills and teach them independence.”

Throughout their visit, the girls learned how to chop vegetables to make a salad, baked their own croutons and made their own ravioli using four different kinds of cheeses. Then, they carefully packed it away to finish cooking at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shepherdstown the following day, where they served the meal to their families.

The girls had a lot of fun taste testing some of the food and even learned a few words in Italian. Ruby Reese and Eva Gorman, two of the Girl Scouts that participated, said that their favorite part was tasting some of the cheese and mixing the cream cheese in with the rest of the food.

However, it wasn’t just about having fun but experiencing a new career. Several of the girls shared their new aspirations to become professional chefs.

“It’s important because if we want to be chefs when we get older, we can learn and experience it for ourselves,” Reese said.

As a girl dad himself, Stearman was happy to work with Troop 15099. He often cooks with his daughters and teaches them the important skills they need in the kitchen. Stearman has been cooking his whole life, so being able to share his passion with the next generation was a special experience.

“I hope that they make pasta at home,” Stearman said. “This is just the entry way for them to learn more. I believe they are at the age where they should learn how to make pasta and I’m happy I got to teach them.”