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Hospitality, Travel & Creative Program ►Professional Cooking & Catering Certificate Program




This training program combines a two course training track:

  • Professional Cooking (I & II)
  • Professional Catering

The Cooking course explores professional techniques and methods for creating hundreds of recipes both traditional and contemporary. From cooking meat, poultry, and game, to preparing purely vegetarian dishes, to baking cakes, pies, and pastries, this Professional Cooking course will take you through the full spectrum of food preparation and presentation while inspiring you to create recipes of your very own. Our comprehensive Professional Catering course will take you through all the steps involved in operating a successful catering business. From planning an event step-by-step, to developing a full menu, to managing your clients and employees, this course offers solutions and considerations for all types of related issues that may arise.


The Job Outlook

Employment of institution and cafeteria chefs and cooks will show growth about as fast as the average. Their employment will not keep pace with the rapid growth in the educational and health services industries—where their employment is concentrated. Offices, schools, and hospitals increasingly contract out their food services in an effort to make institutional food more attractive to office workers, students, staff, visitors, and patients. Much of the growth of these workers will be in contract food service establishments that provide catering services or food management and staff for employee dining rooms, sports complexes, convention centers, and educational or health care facilities.


Professional Cooking Part 1

The food-service industry continues to expand with a wide variety of new restaurants opening every day. Learn the cooking principles you need to begin your career in this exciting industry with our Professional Cooking course. Learn the basics for planning dishes and menus,selecting quality ingredients,and preparing and presenting food in exceptional ways. This course explores professional techniques and methods for creating hundreds of recipes both traditional and contemporary. From cooking meat,poultry,and game,to preparing purely vegetarian dishes,to baking cakes,pies and pastries,this two part Professional Cooking course will take you through the full spectrum of food preparation and presentation while inspiring you to create recipes of your very own.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Identify proper food handling, measurements and how to create a balanced diet
  • Recognize the principles of cooking and food science
  • Recall the steps for preparing stocks, sauces and soups
  • List the basics for properly handling vegetables
  • Identify the structure of various meats and proper cooking techniques

Professional Cooking Part 2

The food-service industry continues to expand with a wide variety of new restaurants opening every day. Learn the cooking principles you need to begin your career in this exciting industry with our Professional Cooking Part I course. Learn the basics for planning dishes and menus,selecting quality ingredients,and preparing and presenting food in exceptional ways. This course explores professional techniques and methods for creating hundreds of recipes both traditional and contemporary. From cooking meat,poultry,and game,to preparing purely vegetarian dishes,Part I will take you through the full spectrum of food preparation and presentation while inspiring you to create recipes of your very own.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Identify the various ways to prepare and cook fish and poultry
  • Recognize the basic ways to create salads,sandwiches and breakfast foods
  • Recall the steps for cooking vegetarian mealsand buffet presentation
  • List common baking principles and formulas for preparing breads and cakes
  • Identify the characteristics of cookies,pies and pudding

Professional Catering (180 Hours)

Our comprehensive Professional Catering course will take you through all the steps involved in operating a successful catering business. From planning an event step-by-step, to developing a full menu, to managing your clients and employees,this course offers solutions and considerations for all types of related issues that may arise. Learn the skills and techniques you need to build and grow a successful catering business today!.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Comprehend different types of catering and their components
  • Identify methods for building a client base and engaging customers
  • Identify the steps involved in the catering operation
  • Identify methods for controlling risk and guiding employee behavior
  • Identify conflict resolution strategies and basic human resource management principles


Professional Cooking Module 1

The Food Service Industry

  • History of Modern Food Service
  • Organization of Modern Kitchens
  • Standards of Professionalism
  • Sanitation
  • Food Hazards
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Food Handling and Storage
  • Preventing Injuries
  • Cooking Equipment
  • Measuring Devices
  • Pots, Pans, and Containers

Professional Cooking Module 2

Menus, Recipes and Nutrition

  • Menu Forms and Functions
  • Building the Menu
  • Measurement
  • Kitchen Math
  • Nutrients
  • Balanced Diets and Menus


Professional Cooking Module 3

Principles of Cooking and Food Science

  • What is Heat?
  • Emulsions
  • Heat Management
  • Conventional Cooking Methods
  • Building Flavor Profiles
  • Using Herbs and Spices
  • Mise En Place
  • Using the Knife

Professional Cooking Module 4

Stocks

  • Ingredients
  • Procedures
  • Reductions
  • Glazes
  • Convenience Bases

Professional Cooking Module 5

Sauces and Soups

  • Sauce Structure
  • Sauce Families
  • Sauce Production
  • Understanding Soups
  • Clear Soups
  • Thick Soups
  • Thickened Soups

Professional Cooking Module 6

Vegetables

  • Controlling Texture Changes
  • General Cooking and Quality Factors
  • Handling Fresh Vegetables
  • Handling Processed Vegetables
  • Boiling and Steaming
  • Sautéing and Pan-Frying
  • Braising
  • Baking
  • Broiling and Grilling
  • Deep-Frying

Professional Cooking Module 7

Potatoes, Legumes and Pasta

  • Understanding Potatoes
  • Cooking Potatoes
  • Dried Legumes
  • Grains
  • Pasta
  • Noodles
  • Dumplings

Professional Cooking Module 8

Cooking Methods for Meat, Poultry, Fish

  • Roasting and Baking
  • Simmering and Submersion Poaching
  • Barbecuing
  • Pan-Frying
  • Steaming
  • Composition and Structure
  • Cooking and Handling Meats
  • Cooking Meats and Game

Professional Cooking Module 1

Poultry and Game Birds

  • Composition and Structure
  • Inspection and Grading
  • Classification and Market Forms
  • Handling
  • Storage
  • Doneness
  • Trussing Methods
  • Cutting Up Chicken
  • Roasting and Baking
  • Broiling and Grilling
  • Dressings and Stuffings

Professional Cooking Module 2

Fish and Seafood

  • Cutting Fish
  • Varieties of Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Mollusks
  • Cephalopods
  • Crustaceans
  • Miscellaneous Seafood
  • Cooking Approaches
  • Steaming
  • Seafood Served Raw

Professional Cooking Module 3

Dressings, Salads and Sandwiches

  • Oil and Vinegar Dressings
  • Emulsified Dressings
  • Other Types of Dressings
  • Ingredients in Salads
  • Arrangement and Presentation
  • Recipes and Techniques
  • Breads
  • Spreads
  • Fillings
  • Types of Sandwiches
  • Making Sandwiches

Professional Cooking Module 4

Hors d'Oeuvres and Breakfast

  • Serving Hors d’Oeuvres
  • Canapes
  • Cocktails
  • Relishes
  • Dips
  • Cooking Eggs
  • Pancakes
  • Waffles
  • French Toast
  • Cereals
  • Breakfast Meats

Professional Cooking Module 5

Dairy and Cooking for Vegetarian Diets

  • Milk
  • Cream
  • Butter
  • Cheese
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Understanding Vegetarian Diets
  • Menus for Vegetarian Diets

Professional Cooking Module 6

Sausages, Cold Foods and Presentation

  • Curing
  • Smoking
  • Pates
  • Terrines
  • Aspic
  • Special Forcemeat Dishes
  • Hot Food Presentation
  • Cold Food Presentation
  • Buffet Arrangement
  • Buffet Appearance

Professional Cooking Module 7

Baking Principles

  • Formulas and Measurement
  • Mixing
  • Gluten Development
  • The Baking Process
  • Staling
  • Yeast Product Types
  • Steps in Yeast Dough Production
  • Dough Formulas and Techniques
  • Rolled-In Doughs
  • Makeup Techniques

Professional Cooking Module 8

Breads and Cakes

  • Quick Breads
  • Mixing and Production Methods
  • Formulas
  • Understanding Cake Making
  • Cake Formula Types
  • Baking
  • Cooling
  • Common Cake Faults
  • Altitude Adjustments
  • Scaling

Professional Cooking Module 9

Cookies, Pies and Puddings

  • Cooking Characteristics
  • Types and Makeup Methods
  • Panning
  • Assembly
  • Fillings
  • Puff Pastry
  • Éclair Paste
  • Meringues
  • Fruit Desserts
  • Custards
  • Frozen Desserts

Professional Catering Module 1

Introduction to Catering

  • Types of Catering
  • Catering Management
  • Catering Segments
  • On/Off-Premise Catering
  • The Caterer and the Client
  • Taking an Event
  • Safeguards
  • Corporate Catering
  • Cost and Profit Relationship
  • The Catering Market
  • Mission Statement
  • Growing the Business

Professional Catering Module 2

Getting Started

  • Choosing Your Client
  • Creating a Customer Base
  • Needs, Wants, Demands
  • Prospecting Strategies
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Types of Social Media
  • Engaging Customers
  • Standard Catering Website
  • The Seven Functions of Catering
  • Planning
  • Operations
  • Implementing

Professional Catering Module 3

The Catering Operation

  • Planning
  • The Menu
  • Barriers to Planning
  • Successful Business Plan
  • Operational Tasks
  • Recipes
  • Convenience Foods
  • Branded Menu Items
  • Organizing the Event
  • Catering Management Tasks
  • Purchasing
  • Ordering and Receiving

Professional Catering Module 4

Catering Equipment

  • Equipment and Design Considerations
  • Utilities
  • Workstations
  • Procuring Catering Equipment
  • Professional Equipment Supplier
  • Consultants and Architects
  • Rental Services
  • Implementing
  • Employee-Supportive Culture
  • Service Styles
  • Uniforms
  • Room Arrangement

Professional Catering Module 5

Control & Legalities

  • Controlling
  • Standard Operating Procedures
  • Guiding Employee Behavior
  • Cash Flow
  • Risk Management
  • Insurance
  • Legal Issues
  • Safety Committees
  • Beverage Management
  • Forming the Beverage Plan
  • Site Inspection
  • Beverage Packages

Professional Catering Module 6

Management

  • Conflict Resolution
  • Dimensions of Conflict
  • Principled Negotiation
  • People Skills
  • Sustainable Catering
  • Sustainable Business Practices
  • Sustainable Green Zones
  • Human Resources Management
  • Federal Employment Laws
  • Recruiting
  • Gathering Information and Interviewing
  • Collective Bargaining

Required Materials:

  • Professional Cooking by Wayne Gisslen
  • Professional Catering by Stephen B. Shiring

Certification

Upon successful completion of our Professional Catering course, students will be prepared for an entry-level position in the field and to sit for the NCCB national certification exam to become a Certified Catering Associate (CCA).

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