OU BOCES CTE: Catskill Cuisine Event

Students from the Orange-Ulster BOCES Culinary Arts program were on hand to lend their culinary skills at Catskill Cuisine, an event hosted at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Saturday, May 11.

The regional event, in its second year, is designed to showcase the beauty, resurgence and popularity of the Catskills region and its distinct regional cuisine.  The event featured demonstrations from local farmers and restaurants as well as vendors from all over the Catskill region.  Students from the culinary program were on hand to assist with the preparation of many of the sample dishes that were served throughout the site. Culinary Arts Instructor, Casey Posadas said, “It was an amazing opportunity for our students and created a lasting impression on them.”

The best part of the day was getting to prepare dishes inspired by several of the celebrity chefs who were on hand that day, many of whom are Food Network superstars.  Chef Andrew Zimmern, who acted as host to the celebrity chef demonstrations visited with the students, thanking each of them for assisting throughout the day.  Chef Ann Burrell signed several of the student chef coats and Chef Michael Symon, despite his hectic schedule, took a minute to pose with a few starstruck aspiring chefs.

Maya Maldonado of Pine Bush High School, shared that her experience at Bethel Woods was a standout moment of her two years within the Culinary Arts program. She was thrilled to meet the celebrity chefs and was excited to learn from the many talented chefs on hand that day.