SCOE Culinary Careers Students Inspired by Visiting Chef

Posted October 2, 2009
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Students from two Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) school campuses got career tips along with kitchen tips from rising star chef Tyler Stone October 2.

Forty students of Leo A. Palmiter and Elinor Lincoln Hickey Jr./Sr. High Schools greeted 21-year-old "Chef Tyler" when he visited Palmiter School in Sacramento.

Stone, a graduate of Sacramento's El Camino High School, was the first presenter in a new Guest Speaker Series for students involved in SCOE's LINKS Service Learning program. LINKS helps at-risk youth get on the right track, find a new direction, build a better future, and take control of life. Students benefit from individualized learning plans, extra support, role models and mentoring, career development, job skills training, and more. LINKS is provided to students at SCOE Juvenile Court, community school campuses, as well as at Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School.

During his Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School appearance Chef Tyler gave a cooking demonstration, showing the students how to prepare one of his favorite dishes (Mediterranean Salad) which is featured in his published cookbook The Kid's Cooking. While fashioning the impressive salad out of simple ingredients, he told the students, "It's easy to do things when you are inspired by passion and creativity."

The chef, featured often on local TV and in national culinary events, autographed copies of his book and advised students, "See yourself doing what it is you plan to do. If you don't have an 'end vision' then how can you start? Find something you love to do, and learn to do it well." He also spoke about the need to explore other avenues related to one's interests.

The Culinary Arts Café, operated by Palmiter and Hickey School students, has scheduled its annual fall public opening for November 10. Reservations for lunch, offered Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 1 p.m. at the school, can be made by phoning (916) 566-2039.