Archive for Culinary Arts

YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE HIGH SCHOOL CTED TO BUILD NEW CULINARY TRAINING FACILITY ON CHINO VALLEY CAMPUS; CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATED AT AROUND $1.5 MILLION WITH EACH PARTNER TO PAY HALF

MICTED and Community College have worked together on numerous cooperative programs as Career and Technical Education opportunities are enhanced on west side of Mingus

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board was informed during its February 20 meeting that the College, in collaboration with the Mountain Institute Career and Technical Education District, is planning to establish a culinary training facility at the College’s Chino Valley Center. This initiative stems from the success of the training program already in place at Prescott High School under the auspices of the Mountain Institute.

The proposed facility, estimated to cost approximately $1.5 million, will be jointly financed, with each partner contributing $750,000 towards construction. Pending approval by the District Governing Board at its upcoming May meeting, construction is expected to proceed forthwith.

The Mountain Institute CTED program, conducted in partnership with Yavapai Community College at Prescott High School, is described as a comprehensive “Culinary Arts Program” aimed at equipping students with fundamental skills in culinary arts. The curriculum covers a wide array of topics including culinary concepts, terminology, kitchen safety, sanitation, equipment usage, basic nutrition guidelines, as well as both standard and metric measurements. Additionally, the program encompasses food costing, theoretical foundations, and practical experience in culinary production. Emphasizing fundamental cooking techniques and preparation methods, the courses cover a diverse range of culinary creations such as hot foods, breakfast entrées, salads, sandwiches, breads, cakes, and pastries.

The program is tailored to prepare individuals for various culinary professions including Chef, Food Service Manager, Private Cook, Short Order Cook, Restaurant Cook, and Baker. Upon completion, students earn four high school credits and 16 Yavapai Community College credits.

You may view the short announcement made about the partnership at the February 20 Board meeting below. The video discusses an opportunity provided by the Mountain Institute to share the cost of building a new classroom and teaching kitchen at the Chino Center, benefiting both Yavapai’s culinary program and increasing enrollments, making it a cost-effective solution compared to renovating an existing space.

 

SEDONA CENTER WILL OFFER A “SEDONA SCHOOL OF CULINARY” IN JUNE AND JULY WITH MENU OF RECREATIONAL COOKING CLASSES

Classes begin June 6 and aim to make you a “better cook at home”

Yavapai Community College announced in a May 1, 2023, press release that it is launching the Sedona School of Culinary, which it says will host a menu of recreational cooking classes to make you a better cook at home! Each class offers a unique culinary learning experience from expert Chefs Carl Miller and Mark Reese

The classes begin June 6 and run for an estimated 2-3 hours.  They will run in June and July. Registration is required.

The following is a portion of the press release from the Community College.

Each class offers a unique culinary learning experience from expert Chefs Carl Miller and Mark Reese. The classes will teach you to prepare and cook delicious meals, appetizers, and desserts perfect for lunch and dinner.

Learn more: sedonaschoolofculinary.com

Each guest can anticipate working with other attendees and the chef during the preparation process to learn some of the cuisine’s backgrounds and culinary techniques that the world’s highest-trained chefs use. And, of course, you get to enjoy your finished meal!

“As we know, food brings people together, from the cooking to the communal dining to the social interaction,” said Chef Carl Miller, Director of Culinary Arts at Yavapai College.

Examples of classes include Farm to Fork, Artisan Pizza and Wine, Middle Eastern, New England, Pasta & Sauce, Mediterranean, Artisan Bread Making, Pretzels and Beer Cheese, Gluten Free Baking, Occasional Cakes, and more.

Classes start on June 6 and are scheduled through July at the Yavapai College Sedona Center at 4215 Arts Village Drive, Sedona, Arizona 86336.

Classes range from 2-3 hours, and registration is required.

For more information on the Sedona School of Culinary and to register for classes, visit sedonaschoolofculinary.com

To read the full Community College press release, click here.

FIRST IT WAS THE SUDDEN DEPARTURE OF SEDONA/VERDE VALLEY’S OUTSTANDING DEAN REDD; NOW AWARD WINNING CHEF AND DIRECTOR OF SEDONA CULINARY ARTS AND HOSPITALITY PROGRAM IS OUT AFTER MAY 14

Blog learns that Chef Robert Barr’s contract with Community College will not be renewed after May 14; reasons for Community College’s non-renewal decision unclear

Sedona Center Culinary and Hospitality Program Director Robert K. Barr

The Blog has learned from reliable sources that the Culinary and Hospitality Program Director at the Sedona Culinary Institute, Robert K. Barr, has been notified by Yavapai Community College that his contract with the College will end May 14.  According to those sources, the bad news for Sedona and the Verde Valley was delivered through then Sedona/Verde Dean Dr. Tina Redd sometime before she suddenly resigned. 

Like Dr. Redd, Mr. Barr joined Yavapai Community College in 2018 with sterling credentials and experience.  He had  worked as instructor, restaurant owner and resort administrator  and had  served as personal chef to Ray Charles, Reba McEntire and former Vice President Dan Quayle.

He had  30 years’ of experience in every facet of food preparation, service and management. He is the recipient of the Presidential Medallion, as well as a High Gold Medal and multiple silver medals from the American Culinary Federation. In  1997 he was named as one of the  Best Chefs in America by the Restaurant Hospitality Rating Bureau. He came  to Yavapai Community College from the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Scottsdale, where he has served as Chef Instructor from  2015-2018.

The Blog believes that Mr. Barr was seeking to expand programs to teach higher level cooking skills at the Sedona facility but his efforts may not have been well received.  He may also have agreed with others in the  Sedona/Verde Valley  region that to succeed as a destination facility, the Institute had to have four kitchens, more space, and adequate student housing.  These views have not found favor with the previous and present Prescott based administrations.

The implications of the Community College decision to end its relationship with Mr. Barr are unclear.  Those who are most distrustful of the Prescott Community College executives and their total control over the Sedona Culinary Institute fear that it may signal a  first step in a slow but gradual effort to once again shutter the facility.

Everyone in Sedona and the Verde Valley will be carefully watching developments at the Institute over the next few months.

SEDONA CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY OFFERS ONLY FIVE COURSES FOR FALL SEMESTER

All courses are in the culinary program; so far only 49 of 84 seats have been filled for the fall semester

Yavapai Community College is offering only five courses this fall at the Sedona Center for Arts and Technology.  All of those courses are in its culinary program.

Registration data from the Community College as of August 14, 2021, indicated that so far only 49 of 84 seats had been filled.  However, one of the five courses does not begin until October 11 and accounted for 12 vacant seats.  Of the four courses that begin August 16,   45 of the available 68  seats had been filled; 23 remain open. 

One may recall that back in 2001, the Sedona Center had been open only one year when in June 2001 the Administration began looking to purchase up to 80 acres of land of the Coconino National Forest adjacent the Center. The purpose was to expand the facility to meet the unexpected huge number of students seeking admission to the Zaki Gordon Film Institute, which was based at the Center and worked cooperatively with Yavapai Community College.

The Red Rock News of June 13, 2001, reported that Keith Harwood of the special projects office of the Community College president’s office was interviewed about the lack of space to accommodate applicants to the film program.  He said, “we’re bursting at the seams.  In the short term, we expected to have 100 in our Sedona multimedia program and we have 500.”  The 20,000 square foot Center had only six classrooms. It was also reported that there was a two-year waiting list to get into the program.

However, the film school training began to collapse following  a 2011 dust up between the Film Institute’s Director and the Community College president over curriculum and control. Shortly thereafter the Independent Film Institute fled to a private university.  The College insisted the program would continue to thrive and remain open.

However, in 2015 the film school was closed by the College President and the Community College director of the Sedona programs (who lived in Prescott). The Community College then began moving video training to the Verde and Prescott campuses.  (The theory the College administration was following was to sell the Sedona Center and lease property for any classes and OLLI.)  Today, the small film training program appears to be mostly based in Prescott.  The threat to sell the Sedona Center was blunted by local educational advocates but strong enrollment or a variety of class offerings have  not returned after its renovation and reopening.

SEDONA CENTER CULINARY PROGRAM OFF TO SLOW REGISTRATION START

Offering four courses beginning in August with 68 seats available; so far only 20 students have signed up

Registration data from Yavapai Community College as of July 16 indicates that the Sedona Culinary Institute program registration is going slowly.   According to the Community College, only 20 students have signed up so far for one of the four courses offered in August.   That leaves 48 open spots.

Registration data for its October program shows that four of 16 slots have been filled so far.

The Institute works against many obstacles this fall. Layoffs in the food industry because of COVID-19 may have an impact on enrollment.  Camp Verde high school students may not take courses at the Institute  because the Camp Verde High School has its own culinary program.   There is apparently no organized bus transportation between Mingus High School and Sedona or from the Verde Campus to the Institute.  There are no residence halls on the Verde Campus or Sedona Center to accommodate those students who cannot find inexpensive housing in the Valley.  The entire project is overseen ultimately  by Prescott based officials who may have neither the time nor the local East County contacts to deal with developing the Institute in the Verde Valley.

Similar problems like these have persisted since the Sedona Center was originally opened in 2000. They have not been directly  addressed by the Community College or the towns and cities in the Verde Valley.  

20 YEARS AGO COLLEGE ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR SEDONA CENTER

Says it will begin construction in April 1999 on its digital media center and campus building at the cultural park; Nationally recognized film school flowing from this decision shut down by Wills

It was 20 years ago, November 30, 1998 that Yavapai College announced that it was going to construct a digital media center and campus building at the cultural park in Sedona.  Construction was approved and additional funds included in the $69.5 million dollar 2000 bond for another building at the Sedona Center. That second building was never built.

The digital building was constructed by 2000 and Dan Gordon and the Community College joined in a  partnership.  That relationship resulted in creation of the Zaki Gorden Film Institute (named after Gordon’s deceased son) and brought national and international recognition to the Community College because of its film training program.

However, Dan Gordon and president Penelope Wills got into some kind of dust up in 2012 over control of the curriculum that led to Gordon leaving Sedona and moving to Liberty University.  President Wills then closed the Institute that was using Gordon’s name. However, she said  she would continue the film program and enhance it.

In a subsequent editorial, Gordon commented on the decision to essentially kick him out saying in part that “[i]n 2012 the current director of the school and the President of Yavapai College violated their contract with the Institute by unilaterally changing course content.” 

According to Mr. Gordon, “As president of the Institute, I cancelled their right to use our name or our copyright-protected methodology and I ceased providing my services, which were offered gratis for twelve years, as lead instructor. The result speaks for itself. Their enrollment dropped 44 percent and the college is dropping the program. When you cut the heart and soul out of something, you cannot expect the body to survive.”  He concluded:  “Meanwhile The Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center at Liberty University is adding an online Master’s Degree program and inside of a year will have some 800 students taking courses in the program.” 

As noted above, when Gordon left, the College promised to “enhance” the film school, which was now renamed the Sedona Film School.  It did not meet that promise.  Instead, Wills essentially shuttered the facility in 2013 and abandoned any film instruction there.  After deciding not to sell the facility as a part of a ten-year 2013 capital development plan,  the College reopened the Center in 2017 as a culinary institute.

Special thanks to the Red Rock News of November 21 for the reminder.

COLLEGE ANNOUNCES THAT NEW DIRECTOR OF CULINARY & HOSPITALITY PROGRAM IS ROBERT BARR

Businessman, educator, well-travelled and experienced chef

Yavapai Community College has announced it hired Robert Barr about a month ago to replace Jenn Jackson as the Director of the Sedona Center’s Culinary and Hospitality program.

Over the last ten years he has held a variety of positions:

He was the Chef Instructor for the Art Institutes of Phoenix from June 2015 – July 2016 (1 year 2 months).

Worked with Le Cordon Bleu at the Scottsdale Community College June 2015 – July 2016). Le Cordon Bleu began shutting down its Scottsdale program  in December 2015. Despite no longer having the Le Cordon Bleu program, the Scottsdale Community College continues to offer a wide variety of culinary courses. (To view the various courses offered at the Scottsdale facility, click here.)

Executive Chef, Fremont Golf Club June 2013 – June 2015 (2 years 1 month).

Executive Chef/Owner, Harvest Café, February 2011 – April 2013 (2 years 3 months), Omaha.

Executive Chef, No Frills Supermarkets, May 2010 – December 2011 (1 year 8 months) Omaha/Elkhorn.

Owner/Executive Cheff, Culinary Class Management and Catering Company, November 2009 – present. Greater Omaha area.  

Vice President of Food Service, Resort Lifestyle Communities, April 2007 – November 2009 (2 years 8 months).

Other positions are listed on his linkin page, which can be accessed by clicking here.

He has received several industry awards for his work as a chef.

You may read more about Mr. Barr in the College’s press release to the local newspapers (here the Verde Independent) by clicking here.    

 

DIRECTOR CHEF JENNIFER JACKSON LEAVES YAVAPAI COLLEGE CULINARY INSTITUTE

Huge loss to future of culinary program in Sedona

The College has yet to issue a press release, however, the Blog was reliably informed and believes that the Sedona Culinary Institute’s Director Chef Jennifer Jackson’s last day as a College employee was Thursday, August 9. She is most likely returning to South Carolina. The Blog also believes a replacement has already been hired.  Formal word from the College is expected in the next several days.

The College had  announced on May 15, 2018 that Chef Jen Jackson was the new Director of Culinary and Hospitality programs. She had served as the interim Director since August 2017.

 Jackson recently became one of fewer than 20 people annually to earn a prestigious Level II Chef Rating from the Culinary Institute of America, the world’s premier culinary college. Level II is equivalent to a master’s degree in the culinary industry. The rating is bestowed only on students who apply and are accepted to the Institute and who complete four days of rigorous examination and kitchen practice.

Dr. James Perey, Yavapai College Executive Dean and Campus Executive Officer of the Verde Valley campus, expressed pride in Jackson’s accomplishment.

Ms. Jackson will be greatly missed!  As she leaves, the culinary program at the Sedona Center is reportedly “thriving” and will soon offer more culinary courses. The Center may also soon offer an Associate degree in Culinary and Hospitality.

 

CHEF JEN JACKSON IS NEW DIRECTOR OF CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY PROGRAMS IN SEDONA

After national search, and after acting as interim Director since August of 2017, Jackson receives appointment

Yavapai Community College announced on May 15, 2018 that Chef Jen Jackson is the new Director of Culinary and Hospitality programs. Chef Jackson had served as the interim Director since August 2017.  From reports the blog has received from students, faculty, and others, Jackson is an outstanding selection!

In its press release, the College wrote the following:

“Born in the Deep South in Mississippi, but living the majority of her adult life in Portland, OR, Jen gravitates to her small town upbringing and love of southern food. She always says, `I am French trained with a Southern twist.’ Jen attended Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, OR and The Culinary Institute of America in both Hyde Park, NY and San Antonio, TX. She is a Pro Chef II certified Chef from the Culinary Institute of America. Last summer, Jen completed a Hospitality Management course through Scottsdale Community College and has continued to further her education in the Hospitality Industry.”

“Before coming to Yavapai College, she owned and operated “Natura Spice Cooking Studio” in the Village of Oak Creek where she taught over 200 cooking classes to the public.  Before moving to Sedona, Jen was a Chef Instructor at St. Mary’s Food Bank/Community Kitchen in Phoenix, AZ. A program for disadvantaged adults to give them a second chance and provide jobs.”

“In her “spare” time, she loves to travel with her partner, hike with their three rescue dogs, go “glamping”, and of course cooking and entertaining.  Jen owned and operated one of the first Food Trucks in Portland, OR back in 2004, “before it was cool,” she says.”

“With her thirteen years in the industry, Jen is excited to use her knowledge, passion, and experience to continue to build the Culinary and Hospitality programs in Sedona and we are happy to have her.”

CULINARY PROGRAM AT SEDONA CENTER BOOMING; HOSPITALITY LAUNCHED; PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE HOSPITALITY PROGRAM WITH YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION PROCEEDING

Culinary Enrollment at 169; College considering adding another section; Hospitality enrolls 24; 14 obtain culinary certificates

Enrollment at the Sedona Center for its new Culinary programs is doing well.  According to Dean James Perey, who updated  the District Governing Board on February 13 about the Verde Campus and Sedona Center, enrollment in culinary courses for the spring semester is at 169 students.  He is considering adding another section in fall 2018 to accommodate the demand for the culinary offerings. 

He noted that 14  high school culinary students recently received their culinary certificates. Those that were already holding  jobs received an immediate increase of from $1 to $2 and hour.

The hospitality program was successfully launched this spring with an initial enrollment of 24 students.  He is working with the Yavapai-Apache Nation that has just completed the large hotel addition in Camp Verde to assess how the College and the Nation can use the facility for training.

Dean Perey’s report to the District Governing Board on February 13 on the culinary and hospital program is on the video clip below.