Another busy year for us! September - We sold, prepared and delivered baked good mixes to pay for FCCLA Fall Leadership. This was a big success and we sold a lot of mixes! We also had our first lunch which was great. October - We had another lunch or two this month and also participated as volunteers in the RCS Pasta Push-Off. One of our favorite lunches had a Rocktober Theme of Hipster v. Punk Rock. Everyone enjoyed it and we had a blast. FCCLA also had its new officer elections to replace some who had moved November - We did a bake sale this month and also went to FCCLA Fall Leadership where students received their competitive events training. We had a Thanksgiving lab but it was especially for the kiddos. December - This was a short but action packed month. We sold chicken stock which went really well. We also sold mixes - introducing soup mixes for the first time. Those sold very well and I know a lot of people are hoping for more. January - We closed out first semester and have begun second semester. Who knows what else the future will hold! February - We held our first lunch of the semester. The menu was developed by the Honors Culinary II group All Natural Cafe. We also had two practical labs in which the students learned about baking and broiling as well as Stir-Fry and boil and simmering as well as Poaching. Very cool labs and many new skills learned. We also participated in Empty Bowls for the 3rd year running. It was a blast. Lots of good soup and fellowship. FCCLA also hosted two bake sales during the Curriculum Fair and Open House. These not only provided a great opportunity for students to see first hand what takes places in Culinary Arts but to raise funds to help pay for our field trip to Myrtle Beach to see Pirate's Voyage with DECA and Theatre Arts. FCCLA ended the month by attending the CTSO Leadership Conference at Craven Community College. This all day event taught students about leadership skills and the opportunities here in Craven County. March - As there is never a dull moment around here March has been slammed. Culinary and FCCLA students volunteered for Taste of Carolina: a very cool event in which restaurants donate their food and time to serve patrons who buy tickets which support the Sound Rivers foundation. In addition to helping with this event, we had a lunch that was designed by the Honors Culinary II group, Yours Truly. FCCLA met that same week to discuss the different activities we have planned for the month, including our FCCLA dinner out March 18th. We also hosted a lunch for B/S/H as they came on a tour of New Bern High School. It was great. We had another simple lunch the week of the 23rd as well as the National Technical Honors Society Induction which we catered. Right before spring break we took a trip to Lenior Community College. We saw a lot of cool program areas, including Culinary of course, and ate lunch at Lovick's in downtown Kinston. I made sure to pick a place we could drive by the farmer's market and of course Chef and the Farmer! April who knows what will happen!
2014-2015
This has been a whirl-wind year. We are very fortunate to have a student teacher assisting our program in the many different projects we've had this year. September we held FCCLA Officer Elections. We selected 5 students to act as officers for the 2014-2015 school year. We were excited to offer congratulations to two Culinary Arts and Hospitality II students who received $1,000 Culinary Arts scholarships donated in honor of Chef Smoke of the Flame at the Craven County NAACP meeting. Chef Smoke also offered seasonal jobs to Culinary II students. It was very exciting. October was time once again for the YMCA Fundraiser Kick Off. We switched things up a little this year and prepared a variety of foods including those that were vegan, vegetarian as well as gluten free. It was a lot of fun had by all. Later that month we assisted with the Pasta Push-Off which is part of the RCS's Bridge Run. At the very end of October Honors Culinary II and Hospitality Students visited Carteret Community College in Morehead City to learn more about their Culinary Arts program. We enjoyed a lunch prepared by the students as well as a tour of the facilities. November meant it was time for FCCLA Fall Leadership Training. It was the first time in several years we've been. We took a little over a dozen students and had a very nice time connecting and learning about FCCLA. FCCLA also made Christmas Cards for Troops, one of the many service project we worked on this school year. December came and went in a hurry. Students helped prepare desserts for 200 people as part of the annual New Bern HS Staff Christmas Party. It was a blast. January was a short month but we managed to get a visit from a Johnson and Wales Student Demonstrator. They did a demonstration of a pasta dish and talked a lot about the program. Because of the weather, February, was a little nutty. We assisted with the RCS's Empty Bowls - another fundraiser for the homeless shelter. It was a lot of work but definitely for a worthy cause. FCCLA also made some Valentine's Day Ornaments that we took to a local Nursing Home. We also featured a bake sale and bakery style meal developed by our Culinary II Management Team "Heavenly Creations." By the time March rolled around we in full gear for lunches and more. Students volunteered at the Taste of Coastal Carolina. They assisted restaurants in the set up and clean up as well as delivering food samples to judges. It was a very cool experience. A local chef, Ben Strange for Lawson's Landing, came out to do a demonstration. He did a great job and got a lot of students thinking about local and gourmet food. The Culinary II Management Team "HMH" developed a fantastic Italian Lunch which was enjoyed by many. We also competed in the 2nd Annual Battle of the Books Dessert Off where we took 1st place once again.
2013-2014
Honors Culinary Arts II students have been working diligently on the final touches for their Entrepreneurship Projects. Be on the lookout for links to their websites and business plans. May 16th, Culinary Arts and DECA students went on a field trip to Myrtle Beach to experience theme dining, entrepreneurship and hospitality in action. We look forward to our trip next year!
May 15th, Culinary Arts I students held a Bear's Breakfast for faculty and staff. See gallery below for pictures from this event.
Whew, what a busy day! On May 15th Culinary Arts Students received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Craven County School Board for the outstanding Dessert prepared for the Battle of the Books Dessert Taste Off! Check out our student representatives on the first page of May's Board Highlights!
May 7th students held a "Siete De Mayo" lunch for faculty and staff. Pictures of this delicious learning experience coming soon!
May 1st students participated in the Clash of the Cookies! New Bern High School took first place by a landslide with the "Bears in the Black Forest" dessert! Check out the feedback from participants in the document below as well as pictures of the desserts from the preliminary round.
Students prepared an assortment of desserts for the preliminary round - including Mini Cheesecakes, cakes pops, fruity pebble geodes, Bears in the Black Forest and two different types of brownies. Ultimately, faculty and peer review determined Bears in the Black Forest to be the best for our competition.
In honor of National Oatmeal Day, Culinary Arts students held a Clash of the Cookies! Each team did amazing and we four different oatmeal infused cookies including peanut butter sandwich cookies, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, chocolate chip bar, and berry cheesecake bars.
April allowed us a wonderful opportunity to prepare two delicious lunchesfor the staff. First lunch was put on by the Culinary II group "La Jour Cafe"(check out the pictures and link to their weebly below). The second was for faculty at NBHS who helped with a curriculum fair. It was enjoyed by all and we were glad to feed them!
March 20th the Culinary Arts students prepared the food for the National Technical Honors Society Induction ceremony. We were proud to feed the young men and women who joined this great organization which recognizes excellence in technical programs! Congratulations inductees!
The NBHS Curriculum Fair was held on March 18th. Culinary students greeted incoming freshman, answered their questions, and gave away cookies. They were excellent ambassadors.
On March 11th our students helped with the Taste of Coastal Carolina Event at the Riverfront Convention Center. We were very pleased to send seven students to assist with the set up and service of this beautiful and delicious event. We are definitely looking forward to next year! Check out our mention on the first page of the Craven County Schools Good News newsletter!
We are pleased to share that our recent involvement in the RCS Empty Bowls event made the paper! We are so proud of our students. Check out the article! http://www.newbernsj.com/news/local/empty-bowls-event-provides-food-shelter-to-needy-1.280929
In February the Culinary II group, The Daedras, presented their menus to the faculty and staff. They offered a wonderful lunch and did a bake sale after school for the guests at Open House. Check out the button below to visit their business plan and website.
Our Culinary Arts Program Won the Wisconsin Cheese Giveaway. We got a total of 8 lbs of different cheeses, cheese booklets, and a cheesecyclopedia! We will be using these cheeses in lab in December. Be on the lookout for pictures!!
In January six Culinary Arts students received their ServSafe certification! Many of those students have used their certification to obtain better or first time employment. A small ceremony was held where students, their families met with administrators and CTE director, Chris Bailey, and received framed ServSafe certificates and good baggies. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed light refreshments, prepared by the students. Check out the pictures from the ceremony.
During Spirit Week in October FCCLA and Culinary Arts Student assembled and delivered Bear Den Snack Cakes to teachers and staff in the teacher's lounge and front office.
October 3rd – YMCA Scholarship Kick Off Catering. We began working this event from the very beginning and hope to continue it for many years in the future.
2012-2013
Congratulations to NBHS for placing 2nd in the Craven County Schools Hispanic Dessert Competition Spring 2013! Our winning dessert was the Tres Leches Cupcakes!
Delicious December Bake Sale
Baskets of Baked Goods!
Culinary Arts Wedding Catering - Coming Soon!
Culinary Arts II Entreprenuership Project Websites
Please enjoy viewing some of my past student work.
Cupcake Wars!
2010-2011: Teen Chef Competition
Cutting Up in the Classroom!
YMCA Kick Off!
Spirit Week!
Working in the Kitchen
Open House Bake Sale
2009-2010
This was a big year for us! We had our second annual teen Chef Competition. We also catered the YMCA Fundraising Kickoff dinner. Itw as a lot of fun! Many of these students have gone onto Johnson and Wales and other culinary schools or work in restaurants. I'm so proud of them!