The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware provides valuable job training to unemployed and underemployed individuals. The 12-week program includes 10 weeks of hands-on training in basic and high-end kitchen skills, safe food handling and life skills. The 10-week training culminates with a two-week paid internship at a food serve company, restaurant or catering company. The school is a certified trade school by the Delaware Department of Education.

The mission of the Culinary School is two-fold. First students are taught skills that are highly desirable to employers in the food industry and second, these newly developed skills have the potential to lead to jobs in the industry that provide job security and economic sustainability.

Under the direction of the Food Bank's Executive Chef, Noah Mathay, and Production Manager and Chef Instructor, Nick Durbin, students are introduced to a commercial kitchen, learn culinary mathematics, basic cooking techniques, presentation and baking skills, knife handling basics, ServSafe® food safety skills and more.

In addition, students play an integral role running the Food Bank of Delaware's catering arm. Students receive hands-on experience with the day-to-day operations of a catering business including ordering, budgeting, meal preparation, serving and customer service. Revenue from catering orders is used to fund scholarships for attendance at the school.

Upon graduation from the Culinary School, the Culinary Arts Program Manager works with area companies to place students in jobs within the food industry. The manager continues to track their progress.

A Business Advisory Council made up of restaurant owners and food industry leaders helps to implement new programs, advises on curriculum matters, and its members serve as expert speakers on culinary and life skills topics.

Community partnerships are central to the Culinary School's success. Just some of the organizations that collaborate with the school include JPMorgan Chase, the Delaware Department of Education, the National Restaurant Association, the American Culinary Federation, the American Food Service Association, Sodexo-Marriott Food Services, Aramark Food Services, Nehemiah Gateway, Small Business Development Center and others.

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