Trainee story
Destiny has a love for cooking that has been passed down through generations of her family. She grew up surrounded by this passion, frequently visiting her grandfather's restaurant where she developed a palate for soul food and a tenacity for cooking. At home, her parents were always cooking soul food and teaching Destiny the ropes of the kitchen. Although her grandfather's restaurant had to close due to financial hardships, this didn't stop Destiny. She took it upon herself to explore different cuisines in her home kitchen, starting with Indian food. As time progressed, her sister began teaching her how to cook different cuisines, such as Japanese. Eager to learn more, not only technique-wise but also on the financial side, Destiny found Sprouts. Here, she was placed at Burdell with Chef Geoff Davis.
Chef Geoff has had a wonderful experience working with Destiny, noting her dedication to the program despite working two other full-time jobs. The Burdell staff quickly took to Destiny, showing her the ways of the kitchen such as knife skills and first aid. What she enjoyed the most was learning how to make sauces, eventually making the sauces that were served to the whole restaurant, such as gravy. They soon entrusted her with waffle making, which she is most proud of. Along with cooking skills, Destiny also shared that her time efficiency has improved greatly in the kitchen and even at home now. She now feels like she can make the delicious food that her parents always made for her. Another result of her dedication to the program is that Destiny was able to book a 60-person catering event for her catering business because of the skills she learned through this program.
After the program, Destiny is going to stay committed to her cooking career by attending Laney Culinary School and Berkeley City College. She hopes the skills she has learned through school and this program will allow her to continue to thrive in her catering business and eventually open up her own restaurant to continue her grandfather's legacy. In her free time, Destiny enjoys experimenting with new recipes and spending quality time with her family, cherishing the culinary traditions that have shaped her passion.
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