West Georgia Technical College’s Culinary Arts Students Bring Classroom Skills to Life Through Pop-Up Restaurant Experience
LaGrange, GA – West Georgia Technical College’s (WGTC) Culinary Arts students recently put their skills to the test during a two-day pop-up restaurant experience that was designed to provide hands-on training in menu development, food preparation, customer service, and restaurant operations.
The pop-up restaurant experience was held in honor of National Culinary Arts Month, which honors the innovation, dedication, and expertise of workers in the culinary field and showcases educational programs that prepare students for careers in the industry.
The goal for the pop-up restaurant experience was to get students accustomed to the food service industry, while allowing them to practice recipe development, teamwork, and the skills needed to be successful in a professional kitchen environment. The idea for the pop-up restaurant experience came from program director Tyler Conner, who took a dining room operations class in culinary school.
“The importance behind the pop-up restaurant gig is that it prepares students for when they begin their career in the food industry,” Conner said. “While working, they are learning skills such as time management. When our students enter the culinary arts program, many have ideas about what they want to do. You have aspiring bakers, chefs, entrepreneurs, hospitality workers, etc. This experience helps them follow their desired path.”
Conner said the experience allowed students to see firsthand how important planning and communication are during service. Working through the challenges that naturally occur in a restaurant setting helped students strengthen their ability to adapt and find solutions in a fast-paced environment.
“I think it was a good thing for our students to struggle a little bit because if everything went smoothly, then they would have that expectation that problems do not arise,” Conner said. “They have certainly learned that prep work goes a long way. Having a solid plan before service begins creates a smoother process. I am hoping the feedback creates a huge impact on them.”
WGTC’s Culinary Arts program offers a degree and a diploma in culinary arts as well as four technical certificates for baking and pastry specialists, catering specialists, food production workers, and prep cooks. For more information on the program, please visit https://www.westgatech.edu/program-explorer/culinary-arts/
