A fascination with food and a recovering economy are driving more and more students to pursue careers in the kitchen. Enrollment is up more than 50 percent at Austin Community College’s Culinary Arts Program.
Hundreds of culinary arts students are getting a taste of the food industry. Sarah Lahorgue is three classes shy of graduating, and has already landed a job.
“I was able to get an executive pastry chef job by showing my skills that I've learned here for the past two years,” said Sarah Lahorgue.
The promise of jobs in a growing industry is a big reason why students are working so hard in the kitchen.
“Right now in Texas, they are planning 20 percent growth for the next five years running,” said Program Chair Brian Hay.
Chef Hay oversees the popular culinary arts program at ACC. It has grown 53 percent over two years.
“Baking, restaurant operations, wine studies. It goes across the board. We are pretty dynamic in what we cover,” said Hay.
An onslaught of television shows focused on food is also heating up enrollment. Restaurant jobs make up 10 percent of all employment in Texas. Fifteen percent of culinary arts students come straight out of high school at ACC. The rest are counting on a career change.
“I'd like to be somewhere in a hotel or restaurant dealing with food and beverage,” said Victoria Poncia.
Right now students are mixing hard work and skills in hopes of creating a recipe for success.
”It’s a lot of work, but it’s still a heck of a lot of fun,” said Hay.
