Culinary Arts/Pastry Arts

Students will be introduced to the baker'92s scale and taught how to properly measure ingredients. Reading a formula and recipe conversions will also be covered. The history of bread making will be explored as well as the creation of many classical items from several cultures around the world. The milling process of flour will be discussed as well as the function of important ingredients in the dough. The class will largely focus on the organized process of preparing dough. Mixing, shaping, proofing, baking, and storing are critical steps that will be explored. The bread and roll productions that will be created in each class will be used in our dining room bakery case.

This class introduces Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts students to the operation of a professional bakery.  Students will examine and perform multiple baking methods and pastry techniques during their production of common bake shop items and desserts including muffins, pies, tarts, cookies, croissants and Danish.  This class also involves the preparation of puff pastry, pâté à choux and short dough along with an assortment of items from each.  Students will be introduced to various ingredients such as nuts, chocolates, and fruits; and taught how, when, and why to use them. 

The focus of this course is plated desserts that would be found in a restaurant setting. The critical components of a plated dessert will be explored along with detailed instructions of each. Various sauces and garnishes will be introduced, as well as various plate presentations. This course will include the production of slow-bake desserts (custards, cheesecakes), frozen desserts, traditional desserts (Baked Alaska, Bananas Foster, Cherries Jubilee), and creative ways to present simple desserts. Students will be required to use their creativity and create a plated dessert of their own for a project grade.

This course will be concerned with creating various cakes, icings, fillings, frostings, and butter creams. Each student will learn the proper techniques for covering a cake, as well as ways to enhance the decoration on it. Making paper cones, writing on cakes, and making several types of butter cream flowers are covered. Classical cakes will also be covered (Dobos, Sacher) along with their history. There will be a large concentration on using a piping bag, the function of various tips, and proper piping techniques. This course will also introduce the use of marzipan, fondant, airbrushing, and wedding cakes.

Baking & Pastry Technologies is a look into the scientific side of baking. Baking & Pastry Technologies is dedicated to teaching different scenarios, and reactions of ingredients, while baking. The lab element gives the experience of seeing different reactions of ingredients in baking; knowing, by looking at finished products, what works best and what may ruin the project. At the completion of this course, the student will have basic knowledge of the scientific breakdown that goes into the formulas of baking. This course will enable graduates to be better prepared to gain positions as a pastry chef or patisserie.

This course encompasses the basic principles of a career in the Culinary Arts.  Each subject will be discussed and practiced in detail and repetition.  This class will emphasize the importance of kitchen safety, organization, and efficiency by examining “mise en place”, proper knife handling and multiple cooking methods.  This course will also emphasize the appropriate standard of behavior and uniform that is set by culinary professionals.  At the end of this course, students will have a core knowledge and insight into the essential aspects of becoming a Professional Chef. 

This course offers a look into the fundamentals of food service sanitation and safety.  Students will demonstrate knowledge of proper hot and cold food handling procedures, cross contamination of ready-to-eat foods, proper receiving practices, proper storage guidelines, who is affected by improper food handling, and federal/state food service sanitation requirements.  When this course is completed, students have the option of testing for a 5-year ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification. 

This course introduces students into not only the nutritional aspects of baking, but the alternative baking world. Alternative baking includes such subjects as gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, and other allergy sensitive baking procedures. Nutritional aspects cover such subjects as low fat, low sodium, carbohydrate sensitive, as well as diabetic responsive dessert composition. Focus will revolve around techniques and alternative methods of producing health-conscious pastries, product substitutions, ideas and concepts of creative alternative and nutritional desserts.

This course is a continuation of our cake decorating course. Advanced cake decorating takes what has been learned in cake decorating and introduces new ingredients, techniques, and skill sets. Intricate piping techniques are demonstrated and practiced. The uses of ingredients such as rolled fondant, gum paste, royal icing and molding chocolate will be established. Advanced cake styles and wedding cakes will be practiced. This is a fifteen-week course that will provide students with the enhanced knowledge, techniques and proficiency of cake decorating.

In this course the student will learn an array of international pastries and advanced pastry methods, techniques, and showpieces. The student will be introduced to chocolate tempering, shaping, basic show piece construction and candy making. Subjects such as pastiage, pouring sugar and confection artistry will also be confection artistry will also be covered, researched, and practiced. Students will fine tune their skills and challenge themselves both technically and artistically.