Culinary Arts and Students

 

After instructing culinary arts for the past 17 years I have learned some things about culinary students. I would like to share with you some of those incredible thoughts and experiences I have had the opportunity to be a part of over the years.

 

Most students enrolling into the program do not really have any idea of where or what they want to do with their hard earned degree; one student however early on told me exactly what he wanted to do with his degree, he wanted my job! That was my first year teaching and you can imagine how that set me for the rest of the year! Today that same student has gone on to earn his masters and is currently working on his PHD. Guess what? He is in education; he works in a hospitality program! I guess I can breathe a slight sigh of relief!

 

Students are always managing their time in the culinary arts program some do it well while others suffer miserably due to poor planning. I actually had a student show up to lab one day in a pair of sweats thinking I would not notice or care! I cared and asked him to leave. Those of you that may think that was a bit harsh, consider where those sweats may have been prior to walking into my lab.

 

I recall being in lab one day and smelling something burning; common occurrences in culinary school except most students recognize the mistake and don’t try to hide! The student in question was hiding behind my oven! Trust me I am not a “Hells Kitchen” type of instructor and for the life of me could not tell you why he was hiding!

 

It has been a real pleasure to be a culinary instructor and today I see students who are in need of success in their lives and professionally. They work hard to garner the skills we require and put in the time it takes to really nail down those skills. Labs are busy and students come to lab with a litany of questions that tell me they have been doing the necessary research to be successful in lab. They think I am going to be upset when they ask their important questions or they may say “I know it may sound dumb but…” and of course I always respond with there are no dumb questions only unasked questions.

When you visit our dining room keep in mind the work behind the plate was accomplished through research, determination, and an overwhelming desire to please you the customer. They are the students of the culinary arts program and have earned their first level of cooking skills by completing the first year of our program. They have dreams of becoming Chefs, Food Stylist, Personal Chefs, and perhaps Pastry Chefs; so when you have a graduate of Madison College Culinary Arts looking for employment and you have an opening, you have just hired a dedicated, loyal and passionate employee!