HCC’s Culinary Arts Program, according to HCC, was established in 1982 and now welcomes over a hundred new students each year.
GUARDIAN NEWS – HOUSTON, TEXAS – On April 10, 2018, the Houston Community College (HCC) Chancellor, Cesar Maldonado, and a host of other employees and guests teamed up to break ground on a new state-of-the-art center to house the college’s famous Culinary Arts Program. He was joined by Trustees Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and Adriana Tamez, Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi, President of Central College, Dr. Anthony Hancock, Dean, Consumer Arts & Sciences Center of Excellence, and HCC alumnus, Chef Hugo Ortega. This project came at the right time to complement today’s Houston culinary values – a fast-growing mash-up of sophistication, color, culture, and ethnicity.
Before this event, during the 2018 Houston Tourism Summit, March 27th, where HCC participated as a sponsor, Dean, Consumer Arts & Sciences Center of Excellence, Dr. Hancock touted the viability of this project and showcased the Culinary Arts program content to potential business partners. The objective of the program he said, is to “provide students with effective practice and leadership skills to be successful in the culinary profession.”
The Tourism Summit held at George R. Brown Convention Center brought more than 700 tourism and hospitality industry professionals to network with each other; showcase their trades, and partake in numerous seminars and conferences to create business possibilities. But HCC’s presence here was evident – to create partnership opportunities and showcase relevant academic programs to the business entity.
In a release made available by the HCC, this facility is being built at the Central College Campus in Midtown Houston and wilould cost about $30 million. The center will include a cooking and baking lab, a dining room and bar, a dish room, computer labs, classrooms, a student lounge, locker rooms, offices, conference rooms and a reception area.
HCC’s Culinary Arts Program, according to HCC, was established in 1982 and now welcomes over a hundred new students each year. Students receive the necessary theoretical knowledge and technical skills to become competent in food preparation, basic cooking and baking methods, regional and international cuisine, cold kitchen preparation, and a la carte kitchen operations and cooking. There is also training in healthy cooking and nutrition, food safety and sanitation, food service operations, food, and beverage cost control and the professional and management skills required for operating a successful workplace.
The significance of this project to the city’s economy was hinted when Chancellor, Maldonado told the audience that “We are training the workforce that has put Houston on the map as a destination for foodies. I am certain there’s another Hugo Ortega out there, and HCC is committed to providing a state-of-the-art facility at which they can learn and hone their craft.”
The new Culinary Arts Center is being constructed on parking lot ten at HCC Central Campus, right next to the college’s five-story parking garage near Alabama, La Branch, Winbern and Austin streets. The building will be two stories tall and will comprise 38,000-square-feet. Construction is expected to take about two years.
Houston Community College (HCC) is composed of 15 Centers of Excellence and numerous satellite centers that serve the diverse communities in the Greater Houston area by preparing individuals to live and work in an increasingly international and technological society. HCC is one of the country’s largest singly-accredited, open-admission, community colleges offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. The Consumer Arts & Sciences Center of Excellence provides technical design, fashion, food, culture, costume, beauty, interior and kitchen design training through its award-winning arts and degree or certificate programs.
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