As members of the Rome City School system gathered in the Black Box Theatre on Tuesday, at the College & Career Academy, to recognize the Teacher and Support Employee of the Year, there was a special something brought to the table, literally.
The CCA culinary arts students were able to showcase their expertise-in-training when they served the banquet attendees a three-course meal.
Students in white chef hats rolled aluminum catering racks in and out of the elevators to deliver hot food prepared by the students themselves. It was a total team effort as some students served dinner and others attended to banquet guests during the meal. Even CCA Associate Principal, Misty Tucker, could be glimpsed rushing around in her white apron, assisting the students.
Culinary arts pathway instructor, Jordan Evans, said that she and her students put in a lot of preparation and planning. She recalled many meetings held just to decide what they wanted to serve at the banquet.
After a fresh green salad, the branded RCS dinnerware, rested in gold charger plates, presented attendees with a delectable dinner of creamy herb chicken, oven roasted potatoes, and seasoned green beans.
“These are actually intro students,” Evans explained, “they've barely gotten into a kitchen, they’ve kind of gotten thrown in. This is a brand-new program, so we’re starting out with beginners in the kitchen, and they've done a fabulous job.”
“I believe that they’ve enjoyed themselves,” Evans added. “It took a lot, but they enjoyed it.”
Sophomore, Myimah Gates, said that the experience has solidified her dream of becoming a chef and that culinary arts is exactly the pathway in which she belongs.
“It was a really great experience!” Gates said. “It’s been great team working skills and good communication skills, and the environment is great!”
She said she enjoyed the atmosphere of a busy kitchen; the loud communication back and forth, and the sense of urgency in getting food ready and getting it out in a timely fashion.
Gates said that her father is a chef, and she has been inspired to follow in her father’s footsteps.
She has goals for the future of going to college and starting her own business after graduation, in which she is the main chef.
“Cooking for other people and seeing other people enjoy your work is a really big part of the enjoyment overall in cooking and serving for other people,” she added. “This is what I want to do!”
Great job, Wolves!!
