Stone Soup Culinary Institute

Stone Soup Café is launching a Culinary Institute!

We are hard at work planning and formalizing our curriculum and we will be officially welcoming our first class of students in May of 2022.

Funding for this Culinary Institute pilot program comes from the State of Massachusetts’ Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program.

If you are interested in applying, please fill out this form!

What will you learn?

  • Training and practice in the fundamentals of cooking

  • Improved knife techniques

  • Preparing stocks, soups, sauces, desserts, poultry, fish & meat

  • Culinary math & measurements

  • Safe-handling and service of food and beverages (ServSafe)

  • Professional development and resume building

  • Internships at local businesses

  • Professional coaching and evaluation of leadership style

  • Teamwork-based approaches to identify, define, respond to, and evaluate problems in various foodservice industry situations and offer resolutions to these problems.

The Culinary Institute will prepare students for various types of cooking positions in the diverse field of foodservice. The 12-week program will result in a Food Handlers License, a ServSafe Certificate, and job skills and references for securing work in the vibrant and emerging food culture here in Pioneer Valley.

Our 12-week program will include 4 days of in-person class onsite at Stone Soup Café (9am - 1pm), and the 5th day at Stone Soup Cafe and/or interning at different restaurants in the area.

Executive Chef Kirsten Levitt, Chef Brandon Shantie, and Chef Michael Phillips prepare to welcome Stone Soup Culinary Institute students.
Executive Chef Kirsten Levitt, Chef Brandon Shantie, and Chef Michael Phillips prepare to welcome Stone Soup Culinary Institute students.

Who can apply?

Applications to the Stone Soup Culinary Institute (SSCI) will be available to all, and we especially are looking to grow a cohort of students who are currently in recovery, formerly incarcerated, people living in poverty who need a new career path, and all other community members who are interested in culinary arts or a new career path.

We are partnering with local stakeholders at Greenfield Community College, Franklin County Sheriff's Kimball House and Re-entry Program, and The Opioid Task Force to seek the ideal candidates for our pilot cohort of students.

The initial pilot course will be FREE for all students.

Prerequisites:

  • Professional attitude
  • Willingness to learn
  • Commitment to show up on time
  • Interested in starting a new career or advancing your current culinary skills

If you are interested in applying, please fill out this form!

Questions can be directed to admin@thestonsoupcafe.org

Watch our video below!