Culinary Arts Seminars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Washington DC - September 18, 2008
Contact: Frans Hagen, 703-978-3915, Email: fhagen@cox.net

The New England Culinary Institute (NECI) & Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Education Foundation (RAMW EF) bring Culinary Arts Seminars with Master Chefs to Area High Schools.

NECI and RAMW EF have partnered to bring a student culinary skills development program to students enrolled in Culinary Arts at District of Columbia and Northern Virginia Public Schools in Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria. Traveling with the “hands on teaching” NECI team are executive chefs David Hale and Mark Molinaro, culinary post secondary college instructors (View biographies) .

Tuesday October 14, 2008 - Annandale High School Culinary Arts and Bistro with culinary students from Annandale, Falls Church, Edison, South Lakes and T.C. Williams High Schools.

Wednesday October 15, 2008 - Academy for Hospitality & Culinary Arts at Roosevelt Senior High School in the District of Columbia with culinary students from Roosevelt and Ballou Senior High Schools.

Each day the students and chefs will meet at 9:00 a.m. and the 80 plus students and faculty will have an unprecedented opportunity to interact with master chefs and leading culinary educators. The chefs will demonstrate culinary techniques and skills required in the 21st century food service kitchen. The students will be exposed to the chefs’ passion for culinary arts and to the tremendous opportunities in the food service industry.

Corporate and Trade Sponsors include: U.S. Foodservice, Manassas - Keany Produce - Ocean-Pro IndustriesNational Capitol Chefs Association - Springfield Hilton Hotel

Media are welcome to attend all sessions. Please contact Frans Hagen to schedule interviews with the NECI executive chef-instructors, local culinary teachers and sponsors; due to school security requirements, arrangements must be made in advance.  

Host schools:

Roosevelt Academy for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, 4301 13th Street, NW, Washington DC 20011 Culinary instructor: Mr. Fredrick Monroe, CSFE / Commercial Baking & Pastry: Mr. McArthur Thomas, CSFE / Principal: Ms. Adela Acosta

Annandale High School, 4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA 22003 Culinary instructor: Ms. Christine Gloninger/Principal: Mr. John Ponton  

RAMW-EF provides the resources for continuous training and development of the skills necessary for entry and growth within the foodservice and hospitality industries. RAMW Education Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to building partnerships between the local community and our area’s public high schools whose focus is on “Career Technology Education.” For more information, visit the RAMW-EF Web site at www.ramw-ef.org.

NECI is a private, co-educational school with campuses in Montpelier and Essex Junction, Vermont. Founded in 1980, its mission was to create a new education model by immersing students from day one as apprentices to Master Chefs. Every student has one or more 6-month paid internships at some of the finest restaurants, resorts and corporations in the world. Across 27 years, NECI has grown from seven to over 500 students of diverse backgrounds and ages. Our history shows that we have constantly added new programs as we continue to reflect the constantly evolving food and beverage industry. We started with one program in 1980 and now offer eight in the areas of culinary arts, baking and pastry and hospitality and restaurant management. Throughout this time, the school has been dedicated to providing small classes, intense education, and a caring environment.

NECI has a faculty of eighty-four who have impressive educational credentials and broad based experience in the food and beverage industry. Students learn in 13 production kitchens that include restaurants, bakeries, banquets, garde manger, and corporate dining rooms. We have more than 500 full-time students; 76 percent are 18 to 25 years old, 22 percent are 26 to 39 years old, and 2 percent are 40 to 56 years old.