Culinary Treasure Opens In South County
A local culinary treasure is now located at West Boca Raton Community High School on Glades Road. On Thursday, October 21, 2010, the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce will officially cut the ribbon on the school’s “Calaloo Cafe,” a laboratory restaurant designed to provide “front of the house” experience to young culinarians. Calaloo is a flavorful Caribbean dish with many regional ingredients. The name of this exclusive restaurant concept reflects its role as a private dining establishment catering to a diverse group of supporters from the local culinary industry and food aficionados from business, industry and higher education. This group of individuals is known as the “Calaloo Consortium,” and their slogan for the Calaloo Café is “Where business and education are the key ingredients for training tomorrow’s culinary professionals.”
The Café project was spearheaded by the school’s Community Academies Advisory Board (CAAB), directed by Chairman J.C. Perrin, Executive Vice President, US Trust, and Vice Chairman Brenda Coto, Managing Director of Technology & Innovation, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science. In their goal to produce a highly educated workforce, the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, under the leadership of President Troy McLellan, and School District of Palm Beach County Board Member Frank Barbieri was instrumental in assisting CAAB in the development of the Café.
In 2006, the Academy of Culinary Arts earned the prestigious title of “National Model Academy” for its expertise in preparing high school students to enter the culinary profession. As a result of this designation, Connie Scotchel-Gross, Career Education Manager, was able to secure a $1,570,000 Florida Department of Education Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) Interdistrict Grant to replicate and disseminate West Boca Raton High’s Culinary Arts Academy at Marathon High School, Monroe County. Funds for the Calaloo Café were supported by this Grant.
Since West Boca Raton High’s opening in 2004, over 500 culinary arts students have successfully mastered the fundamentals of fine cuisine in West Boca’s 20,000 sq. ft., 21st century kitchen. The students are instructed by three professional chefs, Chairperson Nancy Hall, Linda Pearson and Emmanuelle Suarez. Academy Coordinator Susan C. Bantang remarked, “The Calaloo Café is the next critical step in bringing real world applications to the culinary classroom.”
For more information please contact Ms. Bantang at 561-672-2050 or bantans@palmbeach.k12.fl.us .
