Eleven students from France wrapped up their two-week stay in Hoboken last week. The students stayed with Hudson School families, visited area tourist attractions, and were treated to a cooking demonstration from French-schooled chef Jim Hamilton. The Hudson School, 601 Park Ave., is private school teaching grades five through 12.
Welcome to Hoboken
Three of the visiting students – who spoke through a Hudson School student who translated – said they were having a great time in Hoboken. All 11 came from Troyes, France, two hours outside of Paris.
“It’s very different,” said French eighth-grader Damour Maeua, through a translator. She said the school day in France runs until 5 p.m.
“And the school year is longer too,” she said.
The girls said they loved shopping on Washington Street and enjoyed visiting Church Square Park during the day.
They visited Central Park and Times Square in Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island.
The young girls were unaware that Lady Liberty herself was a gift from France.
“Really?” asked Marin Leslie. They looked puzzled.
The girls said they plan to keep I touch with the American counterparts they met via e-mail.
A Mediterranean lunch
Hudson School health teacher Lisa Wittner arranged for Chef Jim Hamilton, owner of the Hamilton’s Grill Room in Lambertville, N.J., to perform a cooking demonstration for seniors at the school and visiting French students.
Hamilton honed his culinary skills in France after completing a successful career doing scenery and lighting in Broadway shows.
“I had a French wife for 20 years before she got rid of me,” Hamilton joked.
“In preparing a meal the great trick is the menu,” Hamilton told the captive (and hungry) audience. His menu theme for the day was a Mediterranean pasta party with fettucini three ways: pasta pesto, pasta with artichokes, and shrimp with pasta a la Grecque.
While showing the how students to make a vinaigrette, Hamilton said to the kids, “In France, the first thing you do when you go into a friend’s kitchen is turn on the stove. My friend, the first thing he does in the kitchen is pours a glass of wine.”
They laughed and waited for a taste of the sauce.
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.