Culinary Arts - CUL

Students learn fundamentals of bread and pastry making, with the emphasis on American products. Included are: baking ingredient properties, function and use of equipment, understanding bakery procedures, recipe conversion, proper storage and sanitation. Students produce home style products including pies, cookies, quick breads, yeast leavened goods, cakes and icings. Elementary cake decoration techniques are introduced; however, emphasis is on production of quality hand-crafted products.

An introduction to on and off premise catering. Students learn professional techniques used by caterers to developing and market services. They develop menus, practice writing proposals and contracts, plan and execute functions. In the kitchen students prepare typical caterer foods such as fruit and vegetable mirrors, canapes, hors d'oeuvres, tea sandwiches and buffet sweets. Students gain experience as they work with phyllo dough, puff pastry, eclair paste, pie and tart dough, savory butters and fillings.

Continuation of CUL 106 covering the remainder of the portions of text not covered in CUL 105 or CUL 106. Instruction and kitchen expectations become more intense as students hone their skills on more difficult techniques and recipes. They will expand their repertoire in the preparation of sauces, proteins, starches, vegetables and fruits. Students receive a hands-on practical introduction to Garde Manger and the Bakeshop. Techniques and lectures augmented and reinforced by chef demonstrations.

Course teaches introductory hot food cookery with emphasis on product utilization, cost effectiveness, timing and presentation. Students practice traditional and modern cooking techniques and good nutrition. Students will receive hands-on practice utilizing moist and dry heat cooking methods. Students prepare sauces, soups, starches, vegetables and center of the plate entrees. Some menus include practical baking of quick breads and home baked desserts. Chef instructors make frequent demonstrations to reinforce and amplify recipes and lectures.

Entry level course provides students with basic culinary skills to enroll in kitchen or baking production classes. Competencies include culinary history, professionalism, basic safety and sanitation, standardized recipe use and costing, basic nutrition and menu planning, introduction to ingredients, use of commercial kitchen equipment and hand tools, basic knife cuts and raw ingredient preparation. Students with previous culinary skills or training may challenge prior to the start of the semester.

Course covers all aspects of food service sanitation, but focuses on causes and prevention of food-borne illness and the implementation of HACCP quality assurance systems. Instruction includes lecture, demonstrations and special projects. Each student takes the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification exam. Passing this confers both NRA (Nevada Restaurant Association) and Washoe County Food Service Manager certification.

Course covers all aspects of food service sanitation, but focuses on causes and prevention of food-borne illness and the implementation of HACCP quality assurance systems. Instruction includes lecture, demonstrations and special projects. Each student takes the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification exam. Passing this confers both NRA (Nevada Restaurant Association) and Washoe County Food Service Manager certification.

Students will apply knowledge and skills to real on-the-job situations in a program designed by a company official and a faculty advisor to maximize learning experiences. Available to students who have completed most core and major requirements and have a 2.5 G.P.A. Contact the Program Coordinator at 775-674-7917 for the application, screening and required skills evaluation. Up to six credit hours may be earned on the basis of 75 hours of internship for one credit.This course may not transfer to a baccalaureate degree of art or science within the universities in the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).

Course is intended to give the student the tools needed in today's tight labor market for advancement in the food service industry. Chefs, sous chefs, food managers, as well as owners, must know and understand food service math and the importance of the bottom line to an operations success. Students will be exposed to such topics as organizing a business's food costs, purchasing, equipment selection, facilities design, scheduling staff, calculate cost percentages, and breakeven points.

Course focus is on European style pastries and multi-portion desserts. Students gain experience making sponge cakes, butter creams, puff pastry, glazes and fillings, meringue, marzipan, chocolate and eclair dough. The emphasis on the production of fine pastry such as tea cookies, petit fours, chocolates and truffles, individual French pastries, tortes and gateau.