Garfield High Culinary Program’s Thanksgiving Program Celebrates 15 Successful Years

Culinary arts students at Garfield High had a much deserved Thanksgiving break after serving nearly 400 diners at this year’s Thanksgiving luncheon at The Prado restaurant in Balboa park. The students prepare the majority of the Thanksgiving meal at Garfield High as well as on-site in the Prado’s commercial kitchen.

“On this special day, the students are given the opportunity to work in a real banquet environment among some of the most talented chefs in the city," said Principal Jolee Pickett. "This luncheon is a dress rehearsal to show them their potential and give them real life skills that will take them far beyond graduation.”

This year, students were mentored by a pastry chef and prepared all the desserts for the event at Garfield. After transporting them all to the Prado, students were divided into “front of the house” and “heart of the house” staff for the event. Nationally known for his "Slim Chef" series, Chef Arlyn Hackett teaches the program at Garfield and supervises the entire Thanksgiving production.

The event benefits the Garfield High School Foundation and is generously supported by the Cohn Restaurant Group. The Culinary Arts and Events Center at Garfield was built in 2008 under the Proposition S and Proposition 1D bond programs. The center is a 3,200 square-foot building and adjacent concrete amphitheater/courtyard which includes a commercial-quality kitchen and serving line, a lecture area, two dining/conference rooms and a nearby organic garden where students learn how to grow and cook with produce from the garden.

For more information on the program, contact Principal Pickett at 619-525-2059.

• Read more about Garfield's Thanksgiving program at UT San Diego»