ALEX FERNANDEZ: You know, culinary is one
of the best classes here. It definitely is.
The teacher, [Ryan] Georgi, he is very funny.
I wanted to be in this class because ever
since I was 12, I loved learning to cook.
I love learning to make breakfast. Me pursuing
this made me want to open my own restaurant
and so I joined this class so I can get the
basic techniques and skills I need when I
got to college.
A lot of things we do here are going to be
a little bit difficult. There are challenges.
However, it's fun because Georgi will show
you how to overcome them and show you different
ways to go past them.
RYAN GEORGI: So we'll start out with basic
business skills and then we transform that
into some restaurant projects. They get a
little bit more of an idea of what happens
in a business and all of the different components.
Then we move into our sanitation and safety
part of the program. Through that, they'll
do their Serv-Safe manager's certification.
So if they pass it, when they go to a culinary
arts program after high school, they will
not have to take and pass that test again.
A lot of local restaurants and food service
businesses are looking for that certification.
It has helped several students to get a job,
just in the past year.
To me, it's important for a couple of reasons.
Number one, it gives them another outlet to
try something they don't get to do in their
other classes. It gets them out of their seat
and doing something and being creative and
thinking outside of the box. A lot of classes,
they don't get to do that with a worksheet.
They have to think on their feet and problem
solve and have to figure stuff out. They have
to learn how to work with other people. They
get a ton of every day adult skills just by
being in here. If they want to go and start
their own restaurant, or start their own business
or work as a chef or any other type of business,
then they are going to get a little bit of
that exposure here. We do have guest chefs
that come in and speak with them as well.
So they get a rounded view of what it's like
to be in food service.
MADDIE TELLEZ: I think it's really cool. I
find culinary to be the best part of the day.
I always look forward to it. It's helpful
to get to learn these things while they are
at school and I think it's definitely pretty
cool.
Yeah, I think it's really important because
cooking is an important life skill that everyone
should have. It's a good way to connect with
other people. It's very useful.
ALEX FERNANDEZ: It's so much fun. I know there's
times where I don't pack a lunch and there's
always extra food in here. Georgi will offer
it to us. Sometimes when we skip breakfast,
especially in first and second period, you
will make breakfast tacos. Which is welcoming
and it shows that Georgi does care about his
students. But this class, yes, it's extremely
fun for me.
