Last week at the Alaska Job Corps’ Community Relations Council, nearly 40 guests gathered to focus on the Job Corps program. The Culinary Arts class prepared special dishes from Celebrity Chef Suzette Lord Welton’s cookbook entitiled “Suzette’s Alaskan Cooking.” The menu included Alaskan Goulash and fruit crisp, complete with spinach salad and fresh bread. Chef Welton was in attendance and explained that it was a joy to see young people learning and using her recipes.

The CRC Sous Chef was senior student Cathrine Gruen, who is leaving as a successful graduate and heads straight into a job in Wasilla at the House of Bread. Cathrine orchestrated and directed the large lunch and has a promising future in the Culinary world.

Employers, partners and community leaders were guests at the lunch including Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle, Chief Ketterling and new Palmer Manager Nick Wallace. Also in attendance were important representatives from the US Senate, congress, MEA, MTA, Regional Recycling Center, Mat Su College, University, Alaska State Fair, real estate companies, City of Palmer, Governor office, resource agencies and Native Corporations.

Culinary students and instructor/chef David Williams are continually training; they have a large public event at the Glenn Massey Theater in conjunction with the Alaska State Fair in beginning of April. It is another Celebrity Chef event which allows students to learn from the pros and to add important skills to their resume.