Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts
About | Program Goals | Staff | The Academic Connection | Courses | Grading Procedures | The Panther Paw | Special Events
Restaurant Management is an intensive course designed for students who are serious about cooking and learning how to operate a successful food service operation. It provides students with the opportunity to explore the profession and develop skills for employment based on industry standards.
Once introductory knowledge and basic skills are established, students operate the Panther Paw, a 48-seat cafe which serves breakfast and lunch every day to PBHS teachers and staff. On Fridays, students are offered a dining experience in café, receiving table and counter service from our restaurant management students. Under the direction of the teacher who is a trained and licensed chef, the students learn cooking methods, food preparation, dining room service and menu development in a commercial setting.
The changing menus enable students to study American regional and International cuisine and their cultures. We also provide on-site catering services for school events and fundraisers. Students have the opportunity to meet professional guest speakers through culinary art lectures and demonstrations.
Our program is certified by the American Culinary Federation Foundation Secondary Certification.
Program Goals
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify and describe several job opportunities in the food service industry.
- Use food safety and sanitation practices, completing Serv-Safe training.
- Develop a strong foundation of cooking techniques and knowledge of ingredients.
- Identify, use and care for commercial foodservice equipment.
- Prepare foods using standard recipes and commercial food techniques utilizing math principles for quantity adjustments.
- Operate a small restaurant, the “Panther Paw”, a bakery, and catering service within the school facility.
- Display evidences of acquired self-development and work attitudes compatible to obtaining and maintaining a job.
- Complete a culminating activity each year related to menu development and the implementing & presentation of an entire meal consisting of an appetizer, entree, salad and dessert.
- Work as a kitchen team member in a professional commercial setting.
Staff
The Academic Connection
Students who complete this career development program are prepared for employment, entrepreneurship, and/or post secondary education related to the food service industry. The Professional Restaurant Management Program has articulation agreements with The Culinary Institute of America, Johnson and Wales University and locally at Montgomery College. We meet the food service industry experience requirement for acceptance to the Culinary Institute of America.
Courses
I. Food Safety and Sanitation
Hygiene in the workplace, Foodborne illnesses, Food handling, temperature control & critical control points, Receiving and storage, Preventing injury in the workplace
II. Kitchen Orientation
Kitchen layout and vocabulary, Measurements, Standardized recipes and conversions, Operation of large & small equipment, Dishwashing procedures
III. Getting Ready to Cook
Effective mise en place in the kitchen, Knife skills, Herbs, spices & seasonings, Basic prep techniques
IV. Food Preparation
Cooking methods, Desserts & Baked Goods, Stocks, soups & sauces, Salad & Salad dressings, Fruits & Vegetables, Potatoes, grains & legumes, Breakfast Foods, Sandwiches, Meat, Poultry & Seafood
V. Menu Development
Portioning, Cost estimating, Profit Margins, American Regional Cuisines, International Cuisines
VI. Career Opportunities
Resume writing, Portfolio Development, Internships, Customer Service
VII. Culinary Arts Guest Speakers
Grading Procedures
Grades in this course will be based on a student's work. The number of points will indicate the weight of a particular assignment.
Acceptance and Make Up of Student Work
- Each assignment will have a due date. This is when you are expected to turn in the assignment. Your grade will drop (10%) for every day it is late.
- Deadlines are 3 days after the due date
It is the last day an assignment will be accepted for a grade.
- Missing work will be recorded in the grade book as a 0%.
- Students are responsible for informing themselves of make-up work when absent & it must be completed within 3 days of your return.
Current grades for assignments are available on Canvas so that students and their parents/guardians can have access to their recent progress.
The Panther Paw
Please visit our website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/paintbranchhs/pantherpaw.aspx
Here is our current menu from the student-run Restaurant: The Panther Paw!
Follow us on twitter @ThePantherPaw