Savor chef has roots in Culinary Arts program

The Culinary Arts program continues to rank as one of the most popular offered at Ozarks Technical Community College.

And now, a Canadian television network will give viewers an inside peek into the talents of one of the program’s alumni.

William Peak, who attended the Culinary Arts program eight years ago, helped establish Savor Restaurant on Commercial Street in Springfield, will be featured on the TLC network’s program “The Opener” later this year. It is airing in Canada now on the Food Network.

The episode, filmed last year in Springfield, followed Peak and his business partner, Erik Kincade, as they worked to get their restaurant off the ground.

“The show’s producers were calling around the country and called the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce who recommended us,” Peak said.

Filming took nearly a month to complete and Peak has yet to see the finished product.

He fell in love with cooking as a child and came to the Culinary Arts program where he honed his talents.

“I really, really learned a lot. Culinary Arts taught me the basics about sauces and flavors. Everything has been a learning experience,” said Peak, who grew up in Oldfield.

Peak came to OTC at the time when the program’s new state-of-the-art kitchen facilities were brought on line.

“For somebody who didn’t know how to fry in a fryer, it was very impressive,” he said.

Lisa Gardner, division chair of the Hospitality and Culinary Arts program, said in addition to the quality of the program, television has had an impact on enrollment.

“There are a lot of cooking shows nowadays and the country in general has promoted the culinary arts,” she said.

Peak joins a growing list of those from OTC’s Culinary Arts and baking programs who went on to success in the food industry.

Amy McGehee took baking classes through OTC’s Community Enrichment program and established Amycakes, a popular bakery in downtown Springfield. Ric Ramos went from graduation last year to work for Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto in New York City and currently works at one of the city’s top French restaurants.

Future chefs will be showcasing their talents starting next Thursday when the student-operated Scallions restaurant opens from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Thursdays. For reservations, call 447-8283 or email scallions@otc.edu.

Steve Koehler is coordinator of publications at Ozarks Technical Community College. Contact him at koehlers@otc.edu.