ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s a twice-yearly tradition at the Walt Disney World Center of Culinary Arts and Hospitality on Valencia College’s Downtown Campus.
The grand buffet serves as a showcase at the end of the fall and spring semesters, highlighting the skills of the graduation students. More than 350 family members of students and community partners enjoyed a multi-course feast, all prepared by students.
Chef Alex Erdmann is the Dean of the School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. He gave News 6 Anchor Julie Broughton a tour of the school during the fall semester grand buffet, explaining that the building in Orlando’s Creative Arts Village houses six kitchens over three floors.
Three of those are for culinary and three are for baking. He told Broughton he’s helped build four culinary schools, and says Valencia’s program can compete with any of them. Erdmann said all of the instructors are industry professionals.
“So what they’re teaching is what you need in the industry. What the students learn is what’s needed in the industry.” Erdmann said. “We really want to make sure we graduate students who have the skills and the knowledge and can apply it immediately in the industry. And the good news is most of the students already work in the industry, so this is just kind of upgrading their position.”
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If you’d like more information on the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Programs at Valencia College, visit the school online here.
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