VIP Reception Caps Celebration of Culinary Arts
College Unveils New Kitchen Facilities at Northern Wake Campus
RALEIGH, N.C. (April 25, 2017) - Food, friends, and fundraising! Wake Tech christened the sparkling new kitchen facilities at its Northern Wake Campus with the “Bake Tech Mixer,” a VIP reception, on Tuesday evening, April 25. The event (named for the popular “Bake Tech” video series the college launched last year) raised funds for Baking & Pastry Arts scholarships and program needs.
Some of the Triangle’s top chefs, restauranteurs, and other community leaders joined college officials and guests for delicious foods, prepared by Wake Tech graduate chefs, and a silent auction. In lieu of a traditional ribbon cutting, a giant challah braid was “broken” to officially open the new kitchens! And they are impressive, with 4,100 square feet of professional ovens and stoves, large mixers, walk-in and reach-in coolers and freezers, an ice machine, an ice cream machine, and a blast chiller.
“There’s a lot of excitement about this beautiful new facility,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Stephen Scott. “Our culinary programs are truly outstanding, and this newest expansion will allow our very talented Baking & Pastry Arts students – and instructors – to shine!“
Baking & Pastry Arts will move from Southern Wake (Main) Campus to the new facilities, in Building K on the Northern Wake Campus, this summer. The program prepares students for entry into the industry in a variety of positions, including pastry chef, cake designer, and bakery manager. Wake Tech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management programs will stay on Southern Wake (Main) Campus.
The Bake Tech Mixer culminated a day-long culinary extravaganza. Earlier in the day, Wake Tech’s annual Culinary Arts Showcase took place in the Building K atrium. It is an end-of-year project for students in associate degree programs in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts, and it highlights student talent from across North Carolina. Students from Wake Tech, Sandhills Community College, Johnson and Wales University, and the Art Institute of Raleigh Durham displayed elegant pastry creations and chocolate showpieces. Advanced students offered their delicious creations for sale – and most sold out! An American Culinary Federation(ACF) competition included cake, bread, cold platter and showpiece categories, with ACF judges selecting winners for artistry, craftsmanship, theme and presentation and awarding official ACF medals. Wake Tech took home 31 bronze medals, 11 silver, and three gold.
