Culinary Spotlight: Chad Hart

July 23, 2024

By Haasini Potluri, Bank of America Student Leader

For Chad Hart, cooking is a passion that he was afraid to pursue. 

“I’ve always wanted to work in the restaurant business, but I never had the guts,” he explained. “I didn’t think I could handle it.”

When he saw a flyer for the Food Bank’s Culinary School in a food distribution box, he decided it was time to overcome his fear and pursue his passion.

“I could go to the Food Bank and get experience first, and in atmosphere that is relatively less stressful compared to a restaurant. I could, then, take that confidence, experience, and other skills into the restaurant industry.”

He reached out to the Food Bank about The Culinary School and was accepted into the 14-week training program. 

Now, 11 weeks into the 14-week program, Chad is appreciative for all the knowledge he has acquired; he credits his success to his teacher, Chef James.

“Chef James is the opposite of every teacher I’ve ever had, because he does it with love and compassion,” he said. Chef James has cultivated a safe space for learning. As a student, Chad feels free to experiment in the kitchen, make mistakes and grow from them. 

“You get a chance to learn. Chef James, he assists and helps, but he also lets you do it,” he pointed out. Chad now feels empowered to try and does not restrain his own potential.

Looking beyond the program, Chad has ambitious goals. Upon graduation, he wants to work in a kitchen, but his goal is to have his own food truck. “I’d like to have my own spot. I want to flip burgers myself,’ he said. 

From pushing his cooking dreams aside to now actively chasing them, Chad is prepared to take on his dream career. His story is one of many that depict the transformative power of The Culinary School program. The next class starts in September, and it’s not too late to apply! To learn more click here. 

To learn more about the Culinary School  program or to apply, visit https://www.fbd.org/the-culinary-school/.