UT is offering a new program that focuses on the basics of the culinary industry.
The certificate-based program is full time and runs for twelve weeks.
“This program is great for students that want to learn all aspects of the culinary arts without spending two to four years in a classroom,” Pam Quick, student recruiter for the culinary program, said. “Our program is hands-on, fast paced and covers the culinary arts. People that love to cook and want to sharpen their culinary skills are great students for this program.”
Not only does the program develop skills for culinary enthusiasts, but it also helps prepare students for careers in sales, marketing and hotel and restaurant management.
“Our students have the chance to show what they have learned and share their experience with friends and family,” Quick said.
Tara Garland, administrative assistant for the culinary program, said that while taking the course, students can expect to gain a lot of knowledge, stories and experience from well-respected culinary professionals in the Knoxville area.
“The class size helps with one-on-one learning,” Garland said. “Usually no more than 12 people are in each class. It’s definitely for those who are passionate about the culinary industry.”
Garland said the program has about 15 or 16 different instructors and each contributes their own unique life experiences and stories to the students.
Garland recently changed her major to hotel, restaurant and tourism after she completed the culinary program because she said that it will give her the training and knowledge she needs to further her career in the field of restaurant management, and perhaps open her own restaurant one day.
“I love event planning and management,” Garland said. “This program caters both to those who see more the business side of things, and control finance, or manage, or also those who want to work with only culinary and food.”
While the course does not count toward general class requirements, the culinary course fulfills the internship credit for HRT students.
The course runs from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
“I definitely recommend taking it during the summer, if you’re a UT student, that way it doesn’t conflict with classes, and you aren’t overwhelmed with work,” Garland said.
For students interested, the culinary course offers a variety of programs within one. The “Wine and Beer” program is aimed at those who are interested in furthering their knowledge of both international and domestic wines, as well as different types of beers.
Cooking courses are also available for those who are looking to enhance their cooking skills, or just learn something new.
The courses offer “Baking,” “Canning” and “Cooking and International Cuisine” cooking lessons. Each class includes a specific chef, or teacher, who is a specialist in the area of topic.
The courses are also available in conjunction with Pellissippi State Community College classes.
“It’s a great program,” Garland said. “Everybody that you work with is excited to be there and extremely friendly. There is no better place to get the networking and experiences. It teaches you how to be out there and be great at what you do.”
Informational sessions for the upcoming courses take place on Aug. 15 and 19, with the courses beginning Sept. 8.
All of the culinary courses are held at the UT Culinary Institute, near UT’s campus. Courses are available online for registration.
Victoria Brown can be followed on Twitter at @vbrown__20.
