The 6th annual Culinary Futures Cocktail Hour and Silent Auction, held Sunday, March 8, 2015 at Ovation Chicago, raised $45,000 to benefit Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), a national non-profit organization that works with public schools to prepare at-risk students for college and careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. The Careers Through Culinary Arts’ curriculum enrichment program links public high school culinary teachers and their students to the foodservice industry.
The Chicago event was proudly hosted by HIC, Harold Import Co.; Conimar Group, LLC; Primula; Fletchers’ Mill and R.S.V.P. International, Inc. The money raised at the evening event benefits the C_CAP Chicago program
Nearly 300 guests enjoyed a variety of mouthwatering dishes including Tarte Flambé with Onion, Nueske Bacon, and Emmenthal Cheese; delicious Vegetarian Samosas; Deconstructed Hamburgers — all prepared and served by the crème de la crème culinary students from nine Chicago Public Schools, each participating in the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP).
The nine schools represented included:
- Manley Career Academy
- North Grand High School
- Simeon Career Academy
- Prosser Career Academy
- Clemente High School
- Washington High School
- Roosevelt High School
- Juarez High school
- Curie Metro High School
In the 2014-2015 academic year, C-CAP Chicago impacted the lives of 3,000 students in 18 public schools working with 34 teachers in job training and internships, teacher trainings, college and career advising, product donations and culinary competitions that lead to culinary school scholarships. In 2013-2014 Academic Year-End Results included awarding 30 Scholarships valued at $584,453.
The final competition is hosted on April 25th at the Illinois Institute of Arts- Chicago. Finalists representing the nine Chicago high schools will compete against the clock as C-CAP re-creates the intensity of a restaurant kitchen. Students will be judged by a panel of local esteemed judges on presentation of the dishes, knife skills, techniques in the kitchen, taste, sanitary food handling, and timeliness.
On April 27th, C-CAP Chicago will hold the Scholarship Awards Breakfast where scholarships and cash awards will be presented to high school students.
For more information about the Chicago event and competition, contact Nicola Copeland at C-CAP Chicago ncopeland@ccapinc.org.