WCCC to deliver culinary classes in Telluride

Aspiring chefs in and around Telluride will now have an opportunity to advance their skills thanks to a new certificate program offered at the Telluride Conference Center by Western Colorado Community College, a division of Colorado Mesa University.

Offering the culinary classes in Telluride came after Telluride community leaders, including those in the restaurant business, said there is a need for basic skills training for prospective employees who want to work in the restaurant sector.

“It is an important part of our mission to provide career and technical education opportunities on the Western Slope,” said Brigitte Sundermann, CMU acting vice president of community college affairs. “We strive to be responsive to the workforce needs identified by area employers.”

The technical certificate program will include five courses that provide training in food safety, kitchen and bakeshop production and techniques of cooking and food presentation. Students will earn college credits that can be applied to toward an associate’s degree in culinary arts at WCCC or a bachelor’s of applied science at CMU.

The first three courses will be held from April 9 through May 12 at the Telluride Convention Center. The Introduction to Foods and Center of the Plate classes will be on Tuesdays through Fridays from 8am to 1pm. The Food Safety and Sanitation class is a 50-minute onsite class on Mondays with an additional online class each week.

The remaining two courses, Introduction to Baking and International Cuisine, will be held from October 15 through November 16, also Tuesdays through Fridays from 8am to 1pm. They also will be held at the Telluride Conference Center. 

For more information about the classes, stop by the Telluride Convention Center between 3pm and 6pm on March 21, 22, 27 or 29 to talk with an admissions representative. Those interested may also contact Gary Ratcliff at 970.240.7604 or 915.615.0546. Information also may be found on the website.

Offering the culinary arts certificate in Telluride is part of an on-going effort to bring more higher education opportunities to the area by CMU, WCCC, Telluride School District R-1 and Telluride community leaders.