ON CAMPUS: Grad joins the revolution
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Just days after graduating from Loyalist College’s Culinary Management program in June 2014, Uri Budzianowski headed to Belleville’s Burger Revolution, took a seat in the restaurant and waited patiently for his chance to make a first impression on chef and owner Jeff Camacho.
“I actually waited an hour and a half just to introduce myself and shake Camacho’s hand,” said Budzianowski.
Impressed with Budzianowski, Camacho hired him on the spot. Having employed 11 Loyalist students and graduatess since opening Burger Revolution four years ago, Camacho likes what he sees from the culinary program.
“They know how the kitchen is run,” said Camacho. “They know the terminology and through the program they have experience working in various culinary environments.”
Since joining Burger Revolution two years ago, Budzianowski finds he uses many of the skills he learned from Loyalist every day.
“It wasn’t just doing prep work,” he said of the program. “You actually get hands-on practice serving real meals to real customers.”
Burger Revolution’s relationship with Loyalist goes beyond hiring students and grads. Camacho serves on the culinary program’s advisory committee, offering feedback on the curriculum from an industry professional’s perspective. He also inspired the Great Canadian Burger Competition, a cook-off for local high schools, which he judged on campus at Loyalist in April.
Camacho points out that Loyalist students make good employees and chefs thanks to the confidence the culinary program instills.
In Loyalist’s culinary management program, students create and innovate under the guidance of distinguished chefs with a rich appreciation of farm-to-table cuisine. Students work in the kitchen and dining room of Resto 213, Loyalist’s on-campus student-run gourmet restaurant and participate in Guest Chef and County Winemaker dinners throughout the year, which provides exposure to different styles of cuisine and winemaking, as well as potential job connections.
Culinary students earn first-hand experience in all aspects of culinary management – from hosting and service, food preparation, pricing and menu design, to developing marketing strategies. And they operate the Loyalist Market, a retail outlet offering an amazing variety of fresh and frozen products designed and created by culinary students.
To learn more about Loyalist’s Culinary Management program, visit loyalistcollege.com.