Program’s Mission Statement

The Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts Program has a commitment to provide a quality program of education to the student emphasizing essential skills, knowledge, and the need for desirable work habits and attitudes. The program is flexible enough for teaching specialties or limited upgrading for those in the trade or for students seeking basic job preparatory skills.

Program Content

This program provides students with the technical knowledge and skills for employment in the areas of Commercial Cooking and Baking as cooks, bakers and/or food preparation workers in the commercial foods and culinary arts industry, as well as, supplemental training for persons previously employed in food service occupations.  Instruction includes a combination of classroom theory and practical experience.

The curriculum includes: 

¹    Desserts

¹    Breads and rolls

¹    Cakes and icings

¹    Pies and cookies

¹    Soup and sauces

¹    Meats (poultry and fish)

¹    Vegetables/salads/dressings

¹    Sandwiches/hours d’oeuvres

¹    Nutrition and sanitation

¹    Ordering and food costing

¹    Employability skills and safety

¹    Serving

Entrance Requirements

¹    16 years of age or older and not currently enrolled in another Miami-Dade county Public School

¹    Occupational Interest

Length of Program 

The entire program is 1500, but students can earn a certificate at the completion of the following OCP’s:

OCP A & B (Steward/Waiter) 150 hours

OCP C (Salad Person Preparation) 150 hours

OCP D (Utility Cook) 150 hours

OCP E (Breakfast Cook) 300 hours

OCP F (Line Cook) 450 hours

OCP G (Pastry Cook) 300 hours

Minimum basic-skills grade levels required for awarding a Full Program Completion Certificate are 9^th grade in Math, Reading, and Language on the TABE Test.

Employment Opportunities:

¹    Cook

¹    Decorator

¹    Dessert maker

¹    Salad maker

¹    Soup maker

¹    Cooks helper

¹    Utility worker

¹    Baker and pastry maker

¹    Fryer and grill

¹    Sandwich maker

¹    Vegetable cook

¹    Cafeteria line worker

¹    busperson

Salary

According to pay-scale compensation reports for consumers and businesses in the state of Florida, a cook’s salary ranges form $18,044 to $34,539 per year. Education, experience, and the type of facility are factors that determine the salary.

CAKE DECORATION

(Lifelong learning class) 

Preparation and decoration of a variety of cakes (special events, weddings, birthdays etc.) using different icing and decorating techniques, safety, sanitation and personal hygiene.