Construction on a new kitchen for culinary arts began June 1. Students started using the new kitchen on the first day of school. They are waiting on a few new appliances before hosting an official ribbon cutting at a later date in November. 

The kitchen offers catering for any kind of event, and the form can be found on the high school website. 

“Getting my students as much experience in every kind of setting is key to growth for them,” culinary arts teacher Jason Walsh said. “We have our first two catering events this week: one for Ms. Donna Clark for her School Health Advisory Council and the Varsity football pregame meals. Every week we do varsity football.”

The students will use the kitchen to prepare for catering events all year.

“We can absolutely hold meetings with food here in the kitchen or have a sit-down meal in our Bistro down the hall,” Walsh said.

Walsh said the “state-of-the-art kitchen” has all the new tools and everything students would find in a fine dining kitchen.The kitchen also includes some technological equipment as well.

“We also have two 55 inch TVs that are mounted towards front of the room and then a camera that drops down from the ceiling that looks down on my demo table that will then project on TVs so students will be able to see what I’m doing and being able to stay at their tables and continue working and see what I’m doing in real time,” Walsh said.

Principal Joey McQueen said that planning for the kitchen was the easy part, but the pandemic caused delays in setting a start date, and some equipment got back-ordered.

“I just got word that the rest of my cooking line equipment will be in and installed next Friday,” Walsh said. 

Walsh is excited to get to use the new kitchen, as is McQueen.

“The new kitchen is awesome!” McQueen said. “It will allow the culinary program to be one of the best in Central Texas.”

Students are also thrilled to use the new kitchen as well.

“I can say I’m very excited to cook in the new kitchen,” sophomore Chase Kuklies said. “I believe that this will give us many more opportunities to learn about culinary arts and all it has to offer.”

Walsh said that trying to teach students how to cook in a small classroom was not easy.

“[The new kitchen] makes it so much easier due to the fact we have all the right tools and equipment to properly make our labs and catering work,” Walsh said. “We can do a lot more technical cooking due to all the wonderful equipment and facilities we now have.”

Kuklies said he thinks the kitchen and all its new equipment will be a great way for students to express themselves through food.

“I absolutely love it and am very blessed to have a district that supports this program and sees the growth,” Walsh said.