Asian Carp was on the menu for culinary arts students at Peoria’s South Side Mission yesterday.  The Southside Mission’s program prepares under and un-employed people to become chefs.  Chris Franzoni is executive chef at South Side Mission.  He says the program gives area residents a creative and professional option:

“We offer them hope to realize that there is opportunity out there for the.  That they can have their dreams and… have a job where they can, whatever their idea of success is, they can attain that.”

About 40 culinary arts students pass through the South Side program each year.  Classically-trained Cajun Chef Philippe Parola taught the students how to prepare Asian Carp.  He says the fish is a good choice for fish lovers despite that it’s an invasive species.  The cooking event was also sponsored in-part by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois American Water.  Officials say both groups want to see an improvement in water quality by reducing the Asian Carp population.