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Culinary Arts

Check out the Culinary Arts Intro Video!
The Art and Science of Food Planning, Menu Development, and
​Restaurant Management

If you have a knack for working with others in a team environment and creating delicious dishes then the Culinary Arts program could be the right plan for you. Culinary Arts is a two-year program designed to prepare students for entry into the restaurant, banquet service, or catering industry, and/or entry into an associate degree program. Students will work directly with a locally renowned chef who will teach students how to successfully plan, prepare, and deliver a final product. The students will also gain on-site valuable experience by running the program's restaurant The Academy Grill , which is open to the public and housed right in the South-Western Career Academy.

Career Opportunities

  • Chef
  • Banquet Manager
  • Caterer
  • Pastry Chef
  • Food Artist
  • Nutritional Assistant

Career Skills Developed

  • Application of scientific knowledge of sanitation and safety
  • Credit and collection functions
  • Restaurant staffing strategies
  • Menu planning and preparation
  • Nutritional information and trends
  • Meeting and banquet support services
  • Table service

Program Highlights

  • Students will compete in ProStart and SkillsUSA, a student leadership organization, which is part of the curriculum.
  • While enrolled in the program, the culinary students will operate the school's full service restaurant, The Academy Grill,  during the school day utilizing their skills learned in the program.

Suggested Skill Set

  • Solid work ethic
  • Ability to handle feedback
  • Works well within a team structure
  • Follows directions thoroughly
  • Has a good sense of urgency
  • Shows initiative and ownership
  • Creative
  • Quick thinker
  • Has good personal hygiene
  • Takes pride in a job well done

Additional Features

  • The South-Western Career Academy is affiliated with ProStart, a program administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). 
  • The two-year ProStart program teaches students the management skills they will need to progress in their education and careers.
  •  When students meet academic standard, complete a checklist of competencies, and participate in at least 400 hours of a mentored work experience, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce. The certificate also provides opportunities for college scholarships. 
  •  Additionally, upon successful completion of the program, the students also have the opportunity to earn the ServSafe National Sanitation and Safety ServSafe Certification. While enrolled at SWCA, students will operate a restaurant, The Academy Grill, during the school day using their skills learned in the program including customer service.

Hear from the Instructor!

Click HERE for the Slides.

Culinary Students Rise to the Challenge

Jordan Simmons and Jefferson Martinez's finished in 5th place with their "Sweet Heat" burger in the State Burger Battle Championship this weekend at the Pro Start Invitational.

The Culinary program fielded three teams for the 28 school Pro Start Invitational.  The Hot Food Team finished a respectable 13th place amongst a loaded field of past national champions. Congratulations to first time contestants Adrian Gasca, Kyrah Stephens-Brown, Angeline Morales, and Jefferson Martinez.

The SWCA Management Team came home with a 3rd place finish in a very close contest for the top spot. Congratulations to Team Capt. Taby Stone, Stacy Suero, Khiayla Powell, and J'Ana McGimpsey for there hard work and dedication!

Individual Honors from the invitational also included: Adrian Gasca with a 3rd place finish in Top Knife Skills and Taby Stone with a 3rd place finish in Top Management.

Outstanding Job and Results for the SWCA Culinary Teams!