Sixth-graders in the district’s EXCEL program took a wonderful walking food tour on Islip’s Main Street on May 18, accompanied by EXCEL coordinator Julia Johnson and FACS teacher Natalie De Sena.

The 25 participating middle schoolers began their day with an educational visit to Tellers steakhouse. Next door at the Italian restaurant Verace, they learned how to make meatballs with Executive Chef Mike Maneri. Lunch at Pizza Parm was up next, where the students watched Pizza Parm General Manager Lorenzo Magliulo toss pizzas. He gave them a ball of raw dough to examine before they chowed down on fresh pies and garlic knots. The tour concluded with a stroll down to Coyle’s Ice Cream, where they learned how to make ice cream and decorate cakes with John Proto. 

“The planning was a year in the making,” said Johnson regarding the tour. “Natalie and I started working on it last spring. We thought a walking food tour would be an ideal way to connect kids with their community and to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of people pursuing their passions and the business of owning and running a restaurant or local business. It was a huge success and we hope to make it an annual trip.”