[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1-E2]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE CULINARY ARTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 1998

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize a remarkable culinary school that was recently established in 
Orange County, CA, the Orange County School of Culinary Arts.
  The school is sponsored by the Regional Occupation Program (ROP) of 
North Orange County. ROP is responsible for rehabilitating and re-
training underprivileged and unemployed citizens and high school 
students to compete and succeed in a competitive work environment.
  The Orange County School of Culinary Arts offers a wide variety of 
culinary classes that is as good, if not better, than that of the 
larger culinary institutes in America. While the cost of tuition at one 
of the big three Culinary Arts schools often exceeds $27,000 per year, 
a course at the Orange County School of the Culinary Arts costs $40 per 
class, a $65 uniform fee and the cost of the food that is prepared and 
consumed.
  There is currently a shortage of professionally trained chefs in the 
United States by 2 million. By the turn of the century, this number is 
expected to increase dramatically with the expansion of the cruise 
industry and the resort business throughout the United States. In 
Orange County alone, there are 8 positions available for every 
qualified applicant, and existing programs have not been filing the 
void.
  The community has already flocked to the program. Almost 500 students 
have already enrolled when the student body was only projected to be 
120 students. The courses range from beginner and advanced levels of 
preparation for a variety of foods, to restaurant management, 
nutrition, and sanitation. All courses are instructed by chefs with an 
extensive training in internationally-renown culinary academies and 
working backgrounds from the finest resorts and cruise ships around the 
world.

[[Page E2]]

  I would like to recognize the Orange County School of Culinary Arts 
as a benchmark for other programs to follow. This program will not only 
alleviate the shortage of professionally-trained chefs, it will open a 
world of opportunities to neighboring citizens. From now on, a student 
can now pay for a professional training equal to those of the finest 
academies for a fraction of the cost. The Orange County School of 
Culinary Arts stands before us as a shining example of success for 
other communities to follow in the coming years.

                          ____________________