Sunday, Sep. 26, 2010

Peek at Olathe North’s culinary facility set for Tuesday

Students and staff of the Olathe School District’s Culinary Arts Program will unveil their new professional training facility from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Olathe North High School, 600 E. Prairie.

The new facility features a professional kitchen, a baking and pastry area and a 90-seat restaurant area where the program will host private monthly events at its restaurant, Les Arts Culinaires.

Construction of the facility was completed through the 2008 voter-approved bond in response to the district’s reconfiguration, moving ninth-grade students to the four high schools and sixth-graders to middle schools.

“With the expansion of the commons area at Olathe North for enrollment growth, we needed to relocate the culinary program,” said Gretchen Sherk, director of secondary-level programs. “The new area gives Culinary an opportunity to continue to grow and to continue to produce some of the best teen chefs in the nation.”

Under the leadership of Chef Mike Chrostowski, the 2010 National ProStart Educator of the Year, the program has grown by 30 students over the last five years. Culinary teams have earned five state titles and, just this year, the team earned the national championship at the 2010 National ProStart Invitational.

Program graduates can be found studying in the field at Johnson County Community College, Johnson & Wales University, LeCordon Bleu, the New England Culinary Institute and other internationally acclaimed culinary programs.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the new facility,” Chrostowski said. “This is a place where students will reach new heights in the culinary arts and our patrons will benefit from their efforts.”

The Culinary Arts Program is part of the Olathe School District’s 21st Century Career and Technical Education Programs. For more information, visit 21century.olatheschools.com or contact Nichole Asquith at 913-780-7026, nasquithmcc@olatheschools.com

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