Catering careers for the future

From breakfast to dessert, students in the school’s Catering class are cooking up some career possibilities. Omelets, pies, and stir fry seem as easy as cake to these students as they continuously cook their way through competitions and courses.

Furthermore, the class provides a varied array of foods for many school events, such as sports banquets and luncheons. Cookies, fruit dishes, and brownies are among a few of their most popular eats.

Catering is a two block course which yields two credits with the possibility of a third if the student has a job or internship in the food service industry. In the actual class, catering students learn about the many branches of food production and how to plan, store, and serve food with proper sanitation and food safety techniques.

“This class has taught me how to plan, as well as time management skills too,” senior Alex Onufriyenko said.

The class also offers students extra incentives and opportunities; such as participation in Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) courses. With the help of these courses, students can become strong leaders and address societal issues.

Catering instructor Amy Goodman has taught the class since 2000, and has watched the program’s ups and downs. Ultimately though, the class has become a success.

“The class has gained a lot of momentum over the past three or four years,” Goodman said. “At this point, students are asked to fill out applications to get into the class. We try to choose students based on their interest in the field of Culinary Arts because the certifications that are offered through the class can actually earn students money in their job.”

The National Restaurant Association administers a nationwide ServSafe test that gives students a national certification, allowing them to be eligible for management positions that earn more money. The certification also allows them to opt out of a college course in which they would originally have to pay.

“The ServSafe certification has definitely built my reputation as an up-and-coming chef,” senior Virgil Kovacs said.

Catering students have the opportunity to move up in the world of food with Careers through Culinary Arts (C-CAP) competitions to receive culinary college scholarships and apprenticeships. The competitions are held on state and national levels.

“Catering students come away with a good background of the ins and outs of the Culinary Industry, as well as the skills required to go straight into a career,” Goodman said. “They are also more marketable if they obtain the ServSafe certification. The class definitely offers students many opportunities for future success.”