The second semester of THE COOK MASTERS PROGRAM began in May 2013. COOK has  secured an impressive roster of professional chefs as instructors. Upcoming and past instructors include Michael Solomonov (Zahav, Percy Street Barbecue, Federal Donuts, Citron and Rose), Marc Vetri (Vetri, Osteria, Amis, Alla Spina), Jean-Marie Lacroix (Lacroix, Brûlée Catering), Pierre Calmels (Bibou), Nick Elmi (Rittenhouse Tavern), Jon Cichon (Lacroix), Georges Perrier (Le Bec-Fin, Table 31, Georges’, Mia, The Art of Bread), Guillermo Tellez (Square 1682, Red Owl Tavern), Peter Woolsey (Bistrot La Minette), Michael Schulson (Sampan, Izakaya, St. James Place), Jeff Benjamin (Vetri), Aimee Olexy (Talula’s Table, Talula’s Garden), Joe Cicala (Le Virtu), Jason Cichonski (Ela) and MANY more.

Also involved in the project as partners are Philadelphia Magazine and Foobooz, who help hand-select the ten students per semester to ensure they are invested in the industry. All are welcome to apply: line cooks, culinary students, dishwashers,aspiring chefs…No fancy resume necessary. Applicants are chosen by one simple criteria: a genuine passion to cook in a restaurant kitchen. The overall goal is to grant each student as many as 20 hours of hands-on work with instructors. This experience will ideally lead to an intern position (“stage”) in a chef/instructor’s kitchen or even entry-level employment.

COOK’s owner, Audrey Claire Taichman, says, “With the help and generosity of our chef friends, we are working to foster the next generation of Philly chefs. This is such a strong culinary community – and we not only want to make it stronger but we all want to do our part to give back”

THE COOK MASTERS PROGRAM SECOND SEMESTER SYLLABUS:

Monday, May 6, 2013:
Fish Cookery with Jon Cichon of Lacroix

Tuesday, May 14, 2013:
Health and Nutrition 101 with Katie Cavuto Boyle of Healthy Bites

Monday, May 20, 2013:
Cheese Making with Patrick Feury of Nectar

Tuesday, May 28, 2013:
French Sauces with Jean Marie Lacroix

Monday, June 3, 2013:
Advanced Pastry with Christina Diekewicz of Barclay Prime

Monday, June 10, 2013:
Butchery with Nick Elmi of Rittenhouse Tavern

Monday, June 17, 2013:
Charcuterie with Nick Macri of Southwark

Tuesday, June 18, 2013:
Preserving and Canning for Restaurant Menus with Guillermo Tellez of Square 1682 and
The Red Owl Tavern

Read more about THE COOK MASTERS PROGRAM:

• First Semester Syllabus on Foobooz
• On our blog (courtesy of food blogger extraordinaire Drew Lazor)
• On Foobooz