Launching The Amazing Race: International Cuisine

This past week, The Amazing Race: International Cuisine was launched in Culinary Arts 3! With a refined game structure and new game mechanics, I am confident it will be the most AMAZING season yet! There are plenty of twists and turns to keep teams on their toes and we have some global collaborations in place that are already taking this game to another level!

Game Inspiration
My inspiration for my theme is the reality television game show, The Amazing Race that has been airing for 30 seasons on CBS.  In this show, teams of two race around the globe competing with other contestants to get to each destination “Pit Stop” first. Contestants arriving first get special prizes and game advantages and last to arrive is eliminated from the race.  As teams travel to various locations around the world, they are unlocking the clues provided at route markers in each leg that lead them to the next destination. Some clues direct them to perform a task that are related in some manner to the country wherein they are located or it’s culture. In each leg, teams are eliminated until three remain and vie to reach the the final destination first.

Game Plan
I used the basic game structure and mechanics of this popular television show to create my own culinary version.  This is my basic game plan, however there are sure to be plenty of surprises along the way in our amazing race adventures!

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Teaming up!
Before the game launch, students form teams and create names and promotional video trailers. Spending a few days doing this allows students to bond with new team members before the race begins.  I love the laughter, fun, and creativity that went into the creation of each of the team names and their video productions.

Game Launch!
On game day, students come in to The Amazing Race theme song playing in the background.  I have 8 tables set up with a Chromebook and an envelope labeled, "Route Information". Projected on the screen it says, “Get ready! The first leg of The Amazing Race is about to begin!

I tell students that when the clock starts, they are on a race to find their first route marker.  They need to open the envelope revealing three images and figure out what location they all have in common. Once they determine that location, which is Lyon, France, they must run to find it on the globe I have at the front of the room.  If they guess correctly, they will be handed another envelope that contains another clue. This clue is an image of a famous restaurant in Lyon.  They have to locate the image in Google Maps and in Street View find the man in the red chef’s coat. This man holds the first route marker! When teams show me the man in red, I hand them a laminated route marker that is numbered with the place they arrived (ie. 1, 2, 3, etc.)

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Selecting Countries!
Once all teams have received their route markers, it is time to select their countries!  I tell them this first leg of the race will be Europe! I have chosen 4 countries in Europe that they will be choosing from to research and prepare a dish for. Four weeks from now when we arrive at the Pit Stop, teams will be presenting what they’ve learned and a dish they prepared from that country for an authentic audience of local chefs and staff members.  

The name of each country is on a 3x5 card with the word “entree” or “dessert”.  To keep things exciting, I also wrote "Wild Card" on one card. If a team chooses the “Wild Card” they can select anywhere in Europe that they’d like.  Starting with the Route Marker #1, teams in consecutive order select their country & meal category. This will be the country that they will be researching for leg 1 of the race!

The Amazing Race is off to an EPIC* start! Stay tuned, many more exciting adventures in The Amazing Race to come! Follow us on #culinarySMHS for race updates!

*I was informed by my son today that the word EPIC was outdated and laughable. I say... it’s making a comeback!