For OTC’s James Cardelli, persistence is about to pay off in a big way. The second-year culinary student will complete a stagiaire internship at a renowned Chicago restaurant this week. Newly opened in 2020, the restaurant – Ever – is the creation of Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy and his business partner Michael Muser. James says…
Things are heating up in the kitchens of OTC’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program. Daniel Pliska, the former executive chef at the University Club of MU in Columbia, will join the college’s team of experienced culinary instructors this fall. In his early years, Pliska worked at first-class hotels, restaurants and pastry shops in Washington,…
Few things are more American than apple pie and entrepreneurialism. Former OTC student Eleanor Taylor has combined those two ideals by making custom pies — think artisanal flavors like blushing apple, chocolate amaretto, grapefruit custard and hibiscus lemon meringue — her own entrepreneurial adventure. At just 16 years old, the Springfield native got her start…
Students enrolled in the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Department’s (CAHM) dining room management class create edible masterpieces at OTC’s Scallions restaurant each semester. This year is only slightly different – the class, instead, takes place at Aviary Café, located at Farmers Park on Republic Road. OTC saw a unique opportunity arise when a fluke…
OTC culinary arts student Michelle Higgins has such a busy life that she needs two, sometimes three names, just to get through it all. She’s known as Michelle to some, Susan to others, and she’s even used S. Michelle on occasion. At OTC, Higgins is known as Susan, a student in the Culinary Arts and…
All it took were two words — chocolate and sugar — to convince Chantal Cheevers to enroll in the OTC Culinary Arts program where she eventually earned a national championship in commercial baking. Chantal, who graduated from the OTC’s Culinary Arts program in May, won the gold medal in commercial baking at the national SkillsUSA…
Kyle Houston knew he wanted to be a chef when he was just a youngster watching his grandmother make rolls at 6 in the morning. But it wasn’t until he came to the OTC Career Center as a senior at Republic High School that he was able to change his dream into reality. “I was…