Published: 12/01/2009
For Michael Howard, Sabrina Cano and Stephen Sules, preparing side dishes for charity Thanksgiving baskets in White Plains isn’t just a way to give back to the community — it’s a career move.
The three are among 10 young adults learning about the culinary arts through a White Plains Youth Bureau employment program funded by $36,000 in federal stimulus funds and a $5,000 contribution from Scarsdale philanthropists Dan and Jane Och.
All of the 18- through 24-year-olds are being employed by local restaurants and meet weekly in the kitchen of Memorial United Methodist Church with chef Jeffrey K. Vaden, owner of Soul Luxe Catering, to learn the finer points of cooking.
“I’ve loved cooking since I was 8 years old,” said Sules, 18, a June graduate of White Plains High School. “This was a perfect opportunity for me. When I’m finished with this program, I’m hoping to attend the Culinary Institute (of America, in Dutchess County) and open my own restaurant some day.“
Sules is working at Applebee’s in White Plains as part of his studies. Other local food establishments providing jobs for the program are the Melting Pot, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the Atlanta Bread Co. and the Fair Deal Cafe.
Frank Williams, the Youth Bureau’s director, said the program is especially relevant now, as the bad economy holds few opportunities for recent high school graduates.
“I have so many young adults coming to me every day looking for work,” he said. “For young people who are not in college or the military, the job prospects right now are just dismal. This program represents an effort to help re-engineer and shape people’s lives and put them in an environment where they can learn skills that will open the door to not just jobs, but careers. We think it has tremendous possibilities.”
Vaden, a Culinary Institute graduate who once competed on a Food Network reality show, agreed. “The possibilities are endless,” he said. “Five years from now, I can see any of these kids becoming executive chefs or running their own restaurants. We started four weeks ago, and I can see each of them becoming more and more passionate about their cooking and showing pride in their creations. I push them hard, because that’s the way this industry is — you don’t get many breaks. But the potential for success is definitely there.”
Howard, 20, said “all the men in my family cook, so this is a great experience for me.” Although he plans to return to college to study business administration, he said his brothers, who have owned restaurants in the past, may open another one.
“If they do,” he said, “I can manage the business end of things. But it will definitely help knowing how to cook and about what goes on behind the kitchen door.”
Janet Smith, who coordinates the program for the Youth Bureau, said the group has taken field trips to Highlands Middle School to tour the kitchen there and discuss nutrition; Chef Central, an upscale cooking supply store; the White Plains Stop & Shop supermarket; and the White Plains Hospital Center kitchen.
“We’re getting a lot of different community resources involved, so that the students are exposed to various kitchen experiences,” she said.
Since they started, Vaden has concentrated on teaching the budding chefs how to make what he called the “mother sauces,” five basic sauces used to dress, complement, enhance and bring out the flavor of the foods they’re served with.
On this particular day, they used bechamel sauce in the creation of a macaroni and cheese side dish. They also made candied yams and other yummies, which will be included, along with an uncooked turkey, in Thanksgiving baskets distributed to 100 needy families by Mayor Joseph Delfino’s Youth Council.
Being able to help others on Thanksgiving by doing something she loves “makes this very special,” said Cano, 20, who hopes to open her own bakery some day. “This program will definitely help me achieve my dream, and the fact that we’re able to help someone else makes it even better,” she said. “The whole point of cooking is to feed people.”
By Richard Liebson
rliebson@lohud.com
November 26, 2009
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