Published Friday, October 03, 2008

West Central culinary students take chili bragging rights

West Central Technical College's Culinary Arts Program claimed bragging rights in the Taste of Newnan Chili Cook Off Thursday evening.

The program was awarded the coveted "People's Choice" award.

The program, located on Martin Luther King Drive in the Central Educational Center, is a full professional culinary arts program. Around 25 students dressed in full chef regalia showed up on a volunteer basis to participate in the booth.

Chef Amy Chaffin, director of culinary arts, says that "every year is a new chili. We don't cook with recipes, but rather we mix and match basic ingredients with different flavors that we are studying to create unique and exciting dishes. The students determine what goes into the final product. I believe that in order to learn all that I have to teach them that it has to be in a positive and fun environment."

"We look forward to having West Central Technical College at our Taste of Newnan's each year. The students take so much pride in their booth and their food presentation. It amazes me that we have a formal culinary arts program right here at home," says Linda Kee, director of Main Street Newnan. "I am always looking forward to what they are going to do next. How exciting for them that this vote was a landslide."

The Culinary Arts Program offers classes in everything from foodservice safety and sanitation to international cuisine.

For more information on the program, contact Chef Amy Chaffin, Director of Culinary Arts at 770-423-2000, ext. 210.