It’s no secret San Luis Obispo High School students love a good bite to eat, but can they cook? Photo Courtesy of junior Oscar Fenton.
SLOHS students are lucky that professionally trained Chef Nathan Jaggers who has over ten years of back of the house restaurant experience with deep knowledge in so many cuisines. Expressions decided to inquire about Jaggers and the newest developments in the SLOHS culinary arts kitchen.
Expressions: What are some upcoming culinary events that SLOHS students need to attend.
Culinary Arts Teacher Nathan Jaggers: At the end of this trimester is the food truck event. That gonna be in the end of February, the advanced students will be making and cooking an item from their food truck that they’re creating. They’re working in collaboration with the advanced graphic design class that Mr. Roper teaches.
Expressions: Are there any competitions that the SLOHS kitchen participates in?
Jaggers: We did not participate this year in the chopped cooking classic, which took place on the central coast. I would love to have one, but I couldn’t get students. Culinary II and III were allowed to take it. But I couldn’t get an interested group that I currently had.
Expressions: In what ways is the culinary arts program expanding?
Jaggers: One of the things I’m looking to do is expand culinary and put a professional baking class together. I like it sort of as a continuation and also offer students a higher level of certification. They could get their food manager certificate. That is something that is difficult. I mean it takes time to get there but then you could manage a facility.
Expressions: What are some reasons future tigers should take culinary,
Jaggers: So we wanted to go a step beyond where you could actually become a chef in a real life place. But that would go hand in hand with culinary. In fact, if we get everything approved with Cuesta, because that every one of the classes is now dual enrolled. You could probably come out of high school with a culinary diploma from Cuesta. So that would be phenomenal. You would actually have completed that series with cuesta.
From fierce cooking competitions to real culinary diplomas there are infinite reasons SLOHS students should take culinary arts. Chef Jaggers works tirelessly to expand and grow the SLOHS kitchen hoping to create a generation of well fed and culinarily apt individuals for a cheaper, healthier, and more delicious future.
