Pace Cooks and Bakes Proves to be a Successful New Club

Pace Cooks and Bakes, is a new club on Pace. Photo by Christina Bubba

Pace Cooks and Bakes, is a new club on Pace. Photo by Christina Bubba

Christina Bubba, Editor-in-Chief

Pace Cooks and Bakes, a new club on Pace University’s Pleasantville campus, is cooking up fun events and rapidly expanding.

“Originally we had only the six board members, which, in a few months, turned into about 15 members,” co-president Emma Smith said. “Since then, we have been adding members over the past couple of months…we have 26 members currently.”

The first full-body meeting, with the theme of Super Bowl Snacks, took place on Monday night in the Kessel Student Center’s Butcher Suite. More than 30 students enjoyed the selection of platters ranging from traditional wings and desserts to vegan cauliflower wings, over a playful game of Super Bowl trivia.

“I’m really happy with everyone who came out,” Smith said. “It’s really encouraging that all of these people are supporting my organization on campus.”

Smith (co-president) and the rest of the club’s e-board — Jamie DelToro (co-president), Sarah Gruhn (Vice President) Dana Prisco (secretary), Christina Thalasitis (treasurer), and Brittany Taubman (Public Relations/Social Media Coordinator) – plan on a baking and/or sharing skills at each meeting.

“One of the main ideas we set out with was how to cook in the dorms with basic ingredients- things you already have,” Gruhn said.

These general body meetings take place every other Monday in the Kessel Student Center. In addition, the club partners with other on-campus organizations to host themed events and is looking to partner up with sports teams for certain events next semester.

“The club is great because every time they do something different,” new member, Rocco Odell said. “They combine with other clubs, which makes for a better turn-out.”

The club is in the process of planning its next three events.

‘Fight Ignorance and Rape with Education’ (F.I.R.E.) will join with the club for Avo-cuddles, scheduled for Feb. 12. It will combine F.I.R.E.’s agenda of educating against sexual assault and Pace Cooks and Bakes agenda of teaching culinary skills.

“The goal is to make avocado-toast, but talk about what it means to be in a healthy relationship,” DelToro said.

Although no details will be released about the Tide Pod Challenge event taking place on February 26, the event seemingly offers a comical change of pace to the serious tone of the previous event. The club will partner with Pace’s sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, to talk about healthy self-image for the Potato gang event on March 5.

Kevin Henriquez, the club’s adviser and senior director of the campus dining service, says he is excited about the new organization and how it will help students.

“This is not only getting them [the e-board] involved, but teaching them how to budget themselves,” Henriquez said.