The Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego

What is our Student Culinary Post up to?

Well thank you for asking. We are into our fourth month of this year’s program. We have 17 members in this year’s group. Last month the group met at Holiday Inn on the Bay. Executive Chef Todd Bull gave us all a great class on tallow carving (my new favorite thing to work on). The students under Todd’s direction first sliced up the tallow and then began to work out all the small knots and form small sausage-like pieces. Todd made up 3 forms to work on, sea theme projects.  Each one had a little different set of wire supports. We worked on a seahorse, swordfish and angel fish. Our time frame is only three hours, but in that short period all three pieces had taken recognizable shape. I believe the students really enjoyed this project. This Saturday (23rd) we will be going to the San Diego Pretzel Company in National City. (Please see Todd Bull’s article on this visit). Our goal is to give the students an overall view of the many different careers available in the Culinary Arts. The owner, a former Chef will let them see a different side of the business and that there are many paths that you can take.
    I’m always looking for different places to take the students. We will be going to Hubbs Research, St Tropez Bakery, Kinoko Mushroom and back to the Holiday Inn on the Bay where David Morse, our Stockpot editor will give them a health card class and test, and Tom Adams, our Chef of the Year will give them a cake decorating class. I still need a few ideas to finish out the year, so if you have a place or idea please let me know. We only meet on Saturdays (due to high school members being in school). Our time frame normally is 9 am to 12 pm. We do have some ability to change that if necessary.  Some of these students will be our future. Until next time, Michael Ames

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Hello to all, an update from the CULINARY EXPLORER POST, 2011

Young students getting out to see the foodservice industry at its best….
The Chefs de Cuisine high school students really got a wonderful treat at our very own SAN DIEGO PRETZEL COMPANY, located in National city. Owner HARRIS GOLDEN (center, black polo) toured, demonstrated and discussed all topics of PRETZELS, all that went into making a really great quality product of pretzels and how that related to being a good business person and the qualities of being a good employee and how an employee needs to conduct themselves as being part of a business. Students toured the pretzel factory as Mr. Golden explained all the steps in the pretzel making process.  No one realized all the steps it takes to produce a quality pretzel. The storage facilities were tremendous and as Mr. Golden talked and demonstrated pretzels and all the toppings and the different flavors of pretzels, and all the while informing all of the students about the Convention Center and how the PRETZEL COMPANY sells to Comic Con among other locations in San Diego. The next time you have a station-style function, adding a pretzel station would be great addition to your next event. Mr. Golden even told us about the ZZYZX Rd chocolate chip cookie sold at one of the local colleges (check this name out on the web, Mr. Golden said it had an interesting history). Just think that the San Diego Pretzel Co. does a such a quality product, it was requested by the college to produce the Zzyzx Rd cookie.
    The students received a treat to take home after the tour, and as a very special, one of kind treat Mr. Golden gave each of us a signed copy of his cookbook (really nice). Mr. Golden was instrumental in focusing the High School students as to the do’s and don’ts of being an employee and the qualities which are an imperative part of staying employed, and in this economy we as professionals cannot stress this enough to our younger generation along with passing on culinary knowledge and fundamentals. The qualities of the San Diego Pretzel Company are a shining example of our industry at its best. From all the students, we thank you, Mr. Golden and the San Diego Pretzel Company.
Todd Bull, Teacher, Board of Directors

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