Press release from Fort Wayne Community Schools:
FWCS students return to Charlie Trotter’s restaurant
At least a dozen Fort Wayne Community Schools culinary arts students will spend a few hours on Thursday, Nov. 4, at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago learning about the restaurant and the importance of striving for excellence.
The students are first- and second-year culinary arts students from Anthis Career Center. This is the third year students have had the opportunity to travel to the world famous Chicago restaurant. The trip includes spending two hours touring the restaurant, meeting the team of chefs and servers and enjoying a gourmet meal. As each course of the seven-part meal is served, the chef responsible for preparing that portion visits with the students and teachers. Students are able to ask questions ranging from what skills and education are needed to become a chef to how do chefs balance their careers and personal lives. The chefs talk about their passion, share stories about experiences and provide the students with a realistic view of what a culinary career is like.
The visit is part of Charlie Trotter’s Culinary Education Program, which hosts high school students two to three times a week to encourage them to reach for their dreams. Fort Wayne Community Schools was the first school district outside the Chicago area to participate in the program. A connection with Charlie Trotter was made two years ago when the famed chef visited Fort Wayne for a Blessings in a Backpack fundraiser, and he invited Fort Wayne students to join his program.
Students who participate in the culinary arts program at Anthis Career Center often have aspirations to become chefs or work in a restaurant. Each semester they gain real-world experience at Barr Street Café, the student-run restaurant located at Anthis, 1200 S. Barr St., and preparing and serving food at the cafeteria at the Grile Administrative Center, 1200 S. Clinton St.
For more information about Charlie Trotter and his restaurant, visit www.charlietrotters.com.