New appliances glisten in the background as students scurry about, serving up delicacies to a small group of guests during a test drive of the newly renovated kitchen at the Rio Linda High School Culinary Academy.
“I was excited because I’ve never been in the kitchen before,” says Hrmelindo Rubio, a junior. “This is my first year taking this class.”
“This is huge … I’m excited about the business opportunities,” says Culinary Arts Instructor Julie Burdick. “We’re considering a pizza business and daily specials.”
Even doing dishes in the new kitchen is fun, considering the old space didn’t always have hot water.
“This will elevate our food to a whole new level,” says Burdick. “The dishwasher and pizza oven are by far my two favorite things in the new kitchen.”
With new technologies in food preparation, the original 1950’s kitchen was desperately in need of a renovation to bring it into the 21st Century. From students and staff at Rio Linda High School to the Twin Rivers district office—everyone is thrilled that the long-awaited remodel is complete.
“This is not like the cooking class I took in high school,” says a beaming Dyshay McKinnon.
McKinnon works in the school’s registration office and hopes to increase enrollment by bringing awareness of the up-to-date culinary program to families coming into the registrar’s office.
Marcella Davis is only a junior, so she will get to use the new kitchen next year, too.
“It makes me excited to go to school every day,” says Davis. “It (the culinary program) opens doorways to a career.”
Contact the Twin Rivers Communications Department (916) 566-1628 for more information.
