Culinary boot camp teaches skills, confidence
CHICAGO - The third floor of the Center on Halsted is home to many things - a gymnasium, youth programs and art installations. But tucked behind the doors of an "Authorized Personnel Only" sign is a small kitchen where 25 people from all walks of life train in the culinary arts for nine weeks at Silver Fork.
"I call it culinary boot camp," said Nicole Pederson, director of culinary arts.
The program is a 9-week-long course that trains people on understanding recipes, the language of the kitchen, knife skills and front of house responsibilities. Students also have the opportunity to be certified in a number of ways to allow them to serve alcohol and work in the food industry. The program itself is free, and students are given a stipend to pay for shoes, knives, a uniform or other necessities.
Since its start in 2011, Silver Fork has had an employment success rate of about 70
