Program graduates are prepared for positions such as prep cooks, line cooks, and in some cases, sous chefs. To prepare students for this career, the Cascade Culinary Institute at Central Oregon Community College offers a highly specialized curriculum focusing on the mastery of culinary skills. This program was designed by chefs to train future chefs. The purpose of CCI is to help students develop the personal skills and professionalism necessary to be successful in the food service industry.
Culinary arts is a wide field open to many exciting areas of specialization.
Program graduates will have skills in food preparation and service, principles of food identification, nutrition, food and beverage composition, and menu development. The certificate confirms that students can compete, communicate and interact with peers and superiors in traditional food service operations. The highest demand is for line, prep, and grill cooks with good skills. Past students work for a wide variety of employers, including Timberline Lodge, Sunriver Resort, Broken Top, Double Tree Hotels, Royal Blend Coffee, and others. Some students have chosen to further their careers by going on to the Culinary Institute of America.