Culinary Arts

Welcome to CTHS culinary arts! We are the premier culinary high school in Pasadena ISD. If you want to become and industry professional, you have come to the right place! This course begins with an overview of the restaurant and hospitality industry, then covers the fundamentals and principles of the art of cooking and the science of baking, and concludes with practicum field experiences with our many business partnership sites.

Meet our Students

Vanessa Alvarez

Vanessa is currently attending the CIA in New York to become a Pastry Chef. See her story in the video!

Corina Gonzalez

“CTHS helped me get on the path to realize my goal of attending the Culinary Institute of America and becoming a pastry chef. Since 2017 I have worked for Marriot Hotels on the San Antonio Riverwalk and the Marriot Marquis in Downtown Houston as a pastry cook and baker. I am currently working on my bachelor’s in Business Management and hope to one day open my own food business.”

Meet our Instructors

Richard Alba

Richard Alba has spent 15 years as a teacher. He has worked in the restaurant industry since the age of 16. He holds a B.S. in Anthropology from the University of Houston and an A.A. in Culinary Arts from San Jacinto College Central. He has been trained at the San Francisco Baking Institute and has worked for H-Town Restaurant Group with local celebrity chefs Hugo and Ruben Ortega. His interests include pastry, artisan baking, and modernist cuisine.

RAlba@pasadenaisd.org

Richard Crandall

Richard Crandall is a veteran teacher with 6 years of experience. He has worked in the Food Service Industry since the age of 15. Starting out working as a delivery helper for Brother's Produce during summer vacations. After high school, while attending the University of Houston, he began a career with Houston's PAPPAS Restaurants where he managed front of house and back of house operations at several locations throughout his 25 year career with the company. He holds a B.A. in English Literature and Philosophy from the University of Houston. His interests include modernist cuisine and pastry.

RCrandall@pasadenaisd.org

Tina Dvorak

Tina Dvorak graduated with a B.S. from the University of Houston's Conrad N. Hilton School of Hotel & Restaurant Management where she participated in several internships including: Walt Disney World, FL, Costa Linda Beach Resort in Aruba, and the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. She has worked for various companies as a front of the house restaurant manager including: Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Hyatt Regency Irvine and Champps Americana.

TDVorak@pasadenaisd.org

Industry Certifications

CTHS is the only high school in Pasadena that offers both the ServSafe Manager certification as well as the ProStart COA. Both certifications are recognized by the National Restaurant Association. We are also a ProStart certified program and our instructors are certified ServSafe Managers, Instructors, and Proctors.

Student Organizations: FCCLA

FCCLA is our club/organization for culinary arts at CTHS. We focus on competition, field trips, leadership training, and community service. Check out the pictures and information below.

Competition

Competition is a major part of our program and we strive to represent CTHS and the city of Pasadena well. You can choose from a range of competitions that include: Mystery Basket, Culinary Team, Food Innovations and many more.

Field Trips

Being a student at CTHS affords you a few perk that you may not find at any other ordinary high school. We frequently get behind the scenes access to some pretty cool places. In the past, we have cooked for NASA and worked with numerous local celebrity chefs including Hugo Ortega, Monica Pope, Farmer Lee Jones, and Adan Medrano.

Socials

Although we like to work hard to be the best, we also like to take time to relax and celebrate our success. That's why we put on numerous social events throughout the year. These include: Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners, Easter Celebrations, and a major formal party at the end of the year at one of our partner hotels.

Senior Culinary Cruise

Each year, CTHS culinary arts seniors embark on a journey of a lifetime to gain hands on experience working and learning on a Carnival Cruise Ship. Students get personal tours of the ship as well as behind the scenes experiences. Of course, there is also plenty of time to play and eat in between the hard work.

Texas ProStart Invitational

Texas ProStart prepares students for careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. They gain valuable restaurant and foodservice skills through their academic and workplace experience. The annual Texas ProStart Invitational competition showcases the amazing passion and dedication students have for our industry, as well as emphasizing leadership, teamwork and professionalism as students create their own three course fine dining menu and produce it in front of leading industry professionals. Competing is an important part of what we do at CTHS Culinary. It is a great way for students to build and hone the skills necessary for the industry, build friendships within our program, and it's a great way to have fun doing what you love.

Events

CTHS culinary students gain a tremendous amount of real world experience by engaging in hands on learning through multiple event venues. We are the only campus with a dedicated quick service counter, dining room, and space for large events up to 250 guests. Students learn by working through different areas of our restaurant such as: service, cashier, cookline, and pastry line. Whether it be serving lunch for our teachers each Friday or building the world's largest strawberry shortcake, you are sure to find an experience that interests you.

Facilities

CTHS has the largest commercial teaching kitchen in Pasadena ISD. Our kitchen is stocked with all of the commercial equipment and tools that you need to learn the craft of professional cooking and baking. Take a look at our virtual tour to get a feel for the world class kitchen you could be working and learning in.

Double tree by Hilton at hobby Airport and Marriot Hobby South Internships

All of our senior students participate in internships at our partner hotels. This allows them to gain real world experience in all areas of the hotel business including restaurants and food service, guest services, the coffee shop, events, and many others.