Culinary Arts

Palomar’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways offerings include an outstanding culinary arts program. Students have the option to complete their food handling certification through this class, following the completion of all four pathway credits (1 credit for each of the 4 classes), opening up immediate entry-level job opportunities in the food service industry. Additionally, students who complete all four credits will receive a CTE pathways sash to wear over their graduation gown!

In addition to real kitchen experience, culinary courses count as elective credits towards graduation. Instruction covers the following areas: career preparation, customer relations, food safety and sanitation, basic kitchen skills, food production, nutrition, workplace interactions, business math and cost control and train on commercial equipment. Additionally, students will do test preparation to get ready for the food handler’s certification test, so that they are prepared on exam day.

Ms. Flores, the Culinary Arts teacher, provides the students with opportunities to cook for themselves during classroom kitchen labs, as well as practicing their catering skills to feed the community at special events such as school awards nights. Students who take advantage of these after school opportunities can earn community service hours towards their 30 required hours for graduation, and feel the satisfaction of seeing their hard work feed their community.

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