Future Students

Dear Future Students...

We asked our current students to share some information about the program with you, and here is what they had to say....

Do you have any tips and tricks to be successful in the Culinary Arts Program at Tri-County? 

"First off you would need to have good mental math. You will also need to have good communication skills. Being able to communicate with who you are working with, and with your customers are good key factors of working in the culinary field."

"I have some insider notes, tips, tricks, and advice for you. If you join the culinary arts program you will need leadership skills, work well with others, stay focused when needed, but most importantly...have fun. If you stand around thinking “I can’t do that” or “I will mess up” you will not get through. Your time in this program will be so much fun and such a great learning experience if you try your best and think positive." 

"As a senior I even have some insider tips for you guys. ALWAYS carry around a permanent marker and a notepad (chef usually gives you some). You will use permanent markers a lot to be honest. If you lose yours or don’t bring it, we have extras. Do not think “I can’t do it” or “I won’t be able to do it”. Having a negative mindset will never be good in your favor. Just because you don’t do something great the first time doesn’t mean you “can’t do it”. Practice really will help, you can do it if you practice and keep trying. I have said these things many times, you can ask chef. She told me so many times “You can do it” or “quit being scared to try, it's okay to mess up. Everyone does”. Also, do not say “You do it so good chef” or “you make it look so easy” because chef’s response will always be “how long have I been cooking?" She's right. She's been trained, so of course she can do some things easier or better than you."

"A few insider tips I can give the future culinarians at Tri-County is to keep up with your work and be organized. You need to be flexible and open to suggestions. On the daily you can expect to be working as a team and bonding learning new skills and perfecting already known skills. You’ll learn the science behind food and you will be better able to understand ingredients and the effects of these. You’ll learn to be more clean and sanitary than you thought was needed." 

"It is good to always pay attention to what you are doing. It is important to follow all directions when doing something. You will also have different opportunities to be very creative with the work that you will be doing. You will be learning a lot about food safety and proper sanitation. You will also be learning about costing and different foods that cultures around the world eat. 

Some insider tips I’d share with you would be that you should always be prepared for class and to keep a good attitude. Another tip would be to have good time management. That's a big thing when we are doing catering events or restaurant service. Our lab sometimes gets difficult and stressful at times but the people you began to work with start to feel like family and you began enjoying every moment! I promise it will be the best two years of high school. I'm so glad I chose this program!"

"The advice I’d give you is to try not to slack on your assignments because you will fall behind and it will delay you from having fun cooking in the lab. I’d also say don’t give Chef a hard time she is a fantastic teacher and she will always be there if you need her so don’t get on her bad side! She’s also goofy and will make sure you always have a smile on your face. Lastly, offer to help when the opportunities pop up for Culinary events because I promise you it will be worth it!"

"As for some insider tips about our class is that...something you should know is that you will not be in the lab a lot at first but progressively you will go in a lot more. The uniforms are not flattering for anyone just suck it up, it is protective. Use the lockers for whatever you need for the lab, it is really helpful. When you come to the classroom, always be prepared to either go into the kitchen or work in the classroom. There will be a few weeks where you don’t get to go in the kitchen but it is so you can learn to be safe in the kitchen. Also, don’t complain about OSHA too much...nobody likes it join the club. To be successful in Culinary Arts you have to not goof off while being in a serious situation. You also have to be able to handle stress correctly."

What should future students know about Chef Katie? 

"Being a student of Chef Katie’s I see her as a good person. She is so sweet and understanding. She will always be there for you when you need someone to talk to. She is very helpful and considerate. She took us in as her own kids and I know that she will do the same for you. She would be the best teacher that you would know."

"Since I have had chef Katie for almost 2 years now I can tell y’all a bit about her and what to expect. Chef Katie is probably the best lab instructor, just saying. Of course that's my opinion.. But I am pretty sure all seniors would agree. Chef is like a mom, she has everything haha. If you need a bobby pin, she has it. If you need nail clippers, she has it. If you need someone to talk to, she’s there for you. You can even cry to chef and she will give you a hug. Anyway, my point is that chefs is a great teacher and I highly recommend taking culinary. On another note, I do want to tell you things chef hates. She doesn't like to repeat herself over and over, so make sure you listen if she is talking or ask a friend for help if you think she already said it more than once. Chef doesn’t like when you say bad things about yourself. She might make you say or write down 3 nice things about yourself. Lastly, chef is big on time management. If you are given a task or assignment make sure you use time management wisely and get the work done. "

"You’ll love chef Katie! She’s a great teacher and a great friend she’s very understanding but can be fierce when needed. She’s a great leader and she will teach you to be one. "

"Chef Katie is the BEST. She’s a goofball and we all love her. Chef Katie is a very good teacher. She takes into consideration that people learn differently and she goes the extra steps to make sure people aren’t confused. She is very funny and has a nice sense of humor. She knows how to have fun, but a kitchen is a serious place which is why she also knows when to be serious."

"She may be strict with work but once you get to know her, you will see that it’s because she only wants the best for you as a student and wants to see you succeed. Even with being more on the strict side, Chef can also be lots of fun, goofing around and making jokes with her students, making sure no one is left out. Overall, Chef Katie is someone you can always rely on and someone who you can look up to like many of her students do."

If you had to do it all over again, what would you want to be different about your time at Tri-County?

"My experience at Tri-County is amazing. I wouldn’t change anything about my experience here. All the teachers are very nice and try to help you with anything you need. They try to make sure that you understand everything and help you to your path of graduation. To me Tri-County is different from any other school that I've been to. I feel like there isn’t any specific groups of kids. I feel like we’re all equal here and that's how it should, we’re all wanting the same thing which is to do what makes up happy. I have made so many friends here and honestly don’t want to leave."

"I've learned more than I knew about food and the overall procedure of cooking. I will miss is Tri-County. It has made me a better person and in my lab I’ve learned so much. I started out only knowing how to make ramen noodles...now I know how to cook a full course meal. I've learned to be a leader and how to work with a team. I’m so glad I picked Culinary Arts."

Anything else you would want future students to know? 

"Tri-County is an amazing place. Success is pretty easy to get here. As long as you come to school and try your best, it’s pretty much an easy pass for the next two years. I know it sounds cliché but it’s true. Tri-County helps you prepare for the real world. For only a two year commitment you can get a number of certifications that can make finding a job much easier. In culinary we get to make a variety of different courses with a bunch of delicious ingredients. It truly is a sight to behold when all of you meticulous planning of a recipe turns into the real thing. The pride that comes with cooking something and the people around you enjoying what you make. There is truly nothing else like it."

Sincerely, 

The Junior & Senior Culinary Students of Tri-County Career Center