Metropolitan Community College instructor Peter Walsh received the 2024 Community Outreach Award from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ). The CAFÉ and Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Community Outreach award was accepted by Laura Balak, on behalf of Peter Walsh.

The national award recognizes a culinary/hospitality program or individuals making a positive impact in their community via outreach programs such as food banks, recycling efforts, skill development for the disadvantaged and other services.

Walsh’s program goes to great lengths inspiring young students and equipping them with vital nutritional and culinary knowledge. The College’s Institute for Culinary Arts partnered with a local non-profit, Whispering Roots, which specializes in teaching children about healthy, fresh food. Together they launched the Kids Culinary program for local fourth-grade students. Students learned about making healthy food choices, culinary techniques, agriculture and kitchen nutrition. These topics aligned with the local elementary’s curriculum and goals. 

Cooking introduces the young students to measuring and knife skills where they also learn how to label-read and make smart, nutritional choices. At the same time, the budding cooks are completing math and science standards. This program empowers the next generation to successfully feed themselves in a healthy way and introduces them to the wonders of the culinary world. 

Click here to go back to the 2024 CAFÉ award recipients list.