About
Culinary Arts
Do you love to cook? Do you enjoy serving people in your community and making them happy? Are you interested in a career that allows you to travel? Hospitality and tourism is one of the largest industries in New Hampshire and demand for quality trained cooks, chefs, managers and servers are high. You will gain excellent industry experience in this highly hands-on program, learning your way around our state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and restaurant, and practicing fundamental cooking methods and hospitality principles. You will work with a team to operate the on- site restaurant as well as catering a variety of functions. Start your culinary education with us and prepare for an exciting career in the food service industry or take the next step following high school and advance your skills in an accredited and respected culinary or hospitality management program.
Jessica Sarno
Jessica grew up in Georgia and discovered a joy for cooking in her college years. After completing two years of school for criminal justice, Jessica transitioned to culinary school, graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta in 2003 with a degree in culinary arts. While in Atlanta, Jessica began her culinary career working first at a country club and then at a Hyatt hotel. She transferred with the hotel to Ft. Myers, FL, where she continued at the hotel for another 4 years.
Jessica rotated through many positions at the Hyatt, including garden manger, saucier, banquet chef, and pastry chef. This is where her passion for pastry and cakes was born. Upon moving up north, Jessica took a job at the Café Escadrille where she was able to utilize her knowledge of fine dining cuisine and created menus for wine tasting events and later was promoted to pastry chef.
After several years in industry, Jessica wanted a change of pace from the hectic restaurant scene and decided to venture out on her own, designing custom cakes for special events. This led to teaming up with Princeton Station, a small, family owned restaurant in Chelmsford, MA, where she created cakes for functions held there. Eventually, this led to a large enough following for her to be able to open a storefront in Merrimack, NH. After three years, and trying times during COVID, Jessica opted to close the bakery and begin a new career.
The closing of the bakery led to finding a job at Alvirne High School in Hudson, NH, where she worked to earn her teaching certification, as well as certification as an Executive Chef through the ACF, and taught culinary classes for 3 years, until joining the Salem CTE community this year. She is looking forward to helping students find the love for food that she has and helping to prepare them for a career in the industry.
Salem Culinary Arts
A passion for cooking at a young age can provide a student with a career where they apply culinary arts and creativity to create an amazing career.
We Cater!
It is important that our students learn to prepare food for different situations and scenarios. They not only cook and serve fabulous lunches in our Three Seasons Restaurant, but they also create food for various events and special occasions. Events for up to 50 people can be held in our Three Seasons Restaurant.
We offer plated meals, buffets, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, full or continental breakfasts, and trayed items you can pick up and take to your event.
If you’re interested in having our students prepare food for your event, please contact us to discuss your needs. Please understand that student learning is our first priority, so there may be cases when we are unable to accommodate a particular catering request.
Chef Jeff Bratz603-893-7069
2.0 credits Grade 10-12
In Culinary Arts 1 you will learn about kitchen safety and sanitation, culinary terminology, product identification, baking skills, knife skills and other culinary skills essential to the industry. You will work as a team preparing food for the Three Seasons restaurant and other catering and culinary functions. If you enjoy cooking and working with a fun team in a fast-paced environment, then culinary arts is for you. Opportunity in the culinary and hospitality business is endless and is a profession that you can practice anywhere in the world.
Prerequisite(s): Application
2.0 credits Grade 11-12
In this course, you will build on your skills from year one and take on a leadership role in menu design, working brigade positions such as Sous Chef, dining room manager, expediting, and lead baker. Students assume all upper management positions within the kitchen, dining room, and bakery. You will further refine your skills and knowledge by completing a culinary arts electronic portfolio. This project serves to document your cooking, baking pastry and employability skills, as well as your knowledge of safety and sanitation. Students may also participate in after school functions and banquets. College credit is available through Lakes Region Community College.
Prerequisite(s): C or higher in Culinary Arts I or teacher recommendation
