Langley high school kitchen turns out future chefs

There’s a new take-out option coming to Langley.

Starting now the public can pre-order gourmet takeout and meal kits crafted by Langley students in the Walnut Grove Secondary Professional Cook program.

Supported by the Industry Training Authority (ITA), the tuition-free Youth Train in Trades Professional Cook 1 (PC1) program allows high school students in the Langley School District to cook with a Red Seal chef, while operating a restaurant.

“Youth Train PC1 is the level one of the professional cook program with [Vancouver Community College], and it’s the level one of the Red Seal program to become a professional chef,” explained Laura Dawe, the VCC chef who teaches the WGSS program.

VCC tuition is paid by the local district for Langley students registered in the program.

In addition to training alongside a professional chef, students will learn how to operate a restaurant.

“One Season is our restaurant that we’ve opened here at Walnut Grove [Secondary] to have the students do their service component of the program, so part of their teaching in PC1 is to learn cafeteria service to the public,” Dawe explained.

In past years, the public could book reservations at the school’s restaurant, giving the students a chance to interact with paying customers. “So this year, instead of having the public come in and dine-in in house, we’re actually offering a fully to-go menu,” said Dawe. 

Continue reading in the Aldergrove Star > 

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Did you know that B.C. high school students can get a head start in trades training as early as Grade 11? Learn more about Youth Train in Trades programs.