Local students hone culinary skills

Several Hot Springs students are getting a taste of the culinary world as they participate in the Prostart Program.

Students from the program catered the Student Show at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital on Jan. 10.

“The students prepared all of the food this last week,” Prostart Program teacher Donna Johnson said. “They use textbooks approved by the National Restaurant Association. Students have to do 400 hours of culinary experience.”

Later this spring, the Prostart students will be traveling to Helena to compete in several competitions that will test their skills and abilities. One team will have 90 minutes to prepare a three-course meal on flattop cooking devices that are not using electricity. Another team will be designing a restaurant from start to finish, including the design of the kitchen, equipment needed and the design of the menu.

Two of the students are planning to attend culinary schools in the region. Jade Smith is planning on attending a culinary school in Oregon, while Heather Rosler and Sarah Peters are planning on entering the Culinary Arts program at the Missoula College of Technology-University of Montana.

Prostart students will be doing the catering for approximately 150 people during a ceremony honoring the student of the semester on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at the multi-purpose room in the Elementary School in Hot Springs.

The public is invited to attend.

Johnson can be contacted at the Hot Springs school at 406-741-2014 for more information.

Reporter Douglas Wilks can be reached at dwilks@vp-mi.com or 406-826-3402.