In the culinary program, students develop skills that extend beyond the culinary arts, which they apply to their day-to-day lives, not only by preparing meals but also by working as part of a team. This program brings our school together by hosting events and celebrating culture through the preparation and sharing of delicious meals.
The class is an opportunity for anyone interested in learning how to improve their cooking skills.
Senior Joelle Tabibian said, “My favorite part about culinary days… [is] the sense of unity that it creates for me.” In the culinary program, everyone works together, like in a big production. This gives a sense of teamwork.
Chef Rick Leece stated, “It’s like any kind of art, some people pick up a guitar and they can just start playing beautifully, for cooking, some people struggle with it more, and others it just comes naturally to them.”
The catering team at Beverly offers meal service. Teachers can place orders for catering, and the students in that program prepare their orders and deliver them. Some of the meals they serve include lamb stew, mashed potatoes, curry carrot bisque and crispy spicy chicken sliders.
Tabibian stated, “We go prepare all the orders, and then we go send them out.”
When she was asked what it is like to prepare the orders, she responded, “It’s really stressful, especially because we’re only a team of seven preparing orders for up to 25-30 teachers.”
The culinary program has a great deal to offer beyond the classroom, such as immersing the students in other cultures.
Another detail about the program is that participants compete in competitions and go on trips, such as the Napa trip they took last year.
Chef Leece stated, “For the last 10 years, we competed in Skills USA, for baking and for culinary.”
Tabibian stated, “He’s taught me culture and how to analyze and read things.”
In the future, the chef expressed that he wants to visit a college and university, as well as continue participating in culinary camping trips that teach students to cook outdoors over an open flame.
Even though freshman Audrey Rezvani has only been in culinary for a little over a month, she has learned so much. “I’ve learned knife skills, how to saute foods in a pan without a utensil, I’ve also learned how long to cook certain meats so that they’re not in the temperature danger zone.”
The program does more than just teach about culinary; it also builds confidence and teaches discipline. The culinary program is an amazing experience that offers numerous opportunities and chances to improve one’s cooking skills.
