Culinary Arts

AVAILABLE TO SECOND YEAR STUDENTS: ADVANCED CULINARY ARTS

Students train in our well-equipped kitchen to prepare stocks, cuts of meat, poultry and seafood utilizing a variety of cooking methods. Work in various positions in the restaurant, hotel, retail, and healthcare environments while preparing for your career and future college education. The class focuses on academic, technical skills, and employability practices. Students will develop personal and professional skills in the classroom that will transfer to the workplace:

• Basic cooking techniques
• Food prep in various styles and methods
• Work with a team to manage others
• Work in a professional kitchen
• Job search techniques
• Theory and practice of cooking principles
• Basic commercial baking techniques
• To apply industry safety and sanitation standards
• To work in a commercial kitchen environment
• To prepare products for on-campus retail sales and catering events
• An understanding of cost analysis

Class Benefits

• 20-30 high school credits earned per year
• Develop skills leading to a highly paid, high demand job

Certifications Earned Within the Class

• Class completion certificate
• ServSafe Food Handler card
• ServSafe Manager’s certificate, 2nd year students

Job Opportunties Upon Completion

• Cook: Prep. short order
• Host
• Catering Assistant
• Counter Attendant/Cashier
• Baker’s Assistant
• Cake Decorator
• Donut Maker
• Catering Assistant
• Baker
• Caterer
• Banquet Server

About the Instructor

Elizabeth Ewing is the Executive director of the El Cajon Project Inc. Elizabeth has over 40 years of experience as the owner of restaurants. Elizabeth began her career in the restaurant business in 1977 with the Peach Cottage Restaurant. In 1989, she owned and operated the Blue Sky Café and Flower Bar in Mountain View, CA. In 1992, the San Francisco Chronicle awarded her restaurant three and a half stars.

Mrs. Ewing’s love of children has been a constant theme in her career. In 1985, she was the owner and director of the Sunflower Child Development Center. During this time, she enrolled 150 infants and pre-school students into her center.

In 1993, she founded the El Cajon Project. During the next 25 years, Mrs. Ewing has been covered by over 50 news articles and reviews about the program. She was the Culinary Arts Instructor for the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District for 12 years. She instructed basic culinary arts skills and concepts to high school students.