The Continuing Education Department at Beaufort County Community College has been converting a classroom to a restaurant-grade culinary lab for the last few months. Now that construction is wrapping up, the department will host an open house for students interested in learning about the new culinary arts program.

The culinary arts program will give students the experience they need to work at local restaurants or build on their current skillset. While personal enrichment classes will also take place in the new culinary classroom, the culinary arts program is geared toward professional cooks and chefs who will gain training on the equipment they will work with in a commercial kitchen. Local restaurant owners helped develop the program based on the gaps in training they saw in applicants and employees.

“We are excited to be able to offer such a great community resource here at BCCC,” said Lou Stout, director of workforce initiatives. “Plans for a culinary program have been in the making for quite a while. Not only will job seekers gain valuable skills towards employment, the community will be able to take various classes and learn skills to impress their family and friends.”

The college will be holding two orientation sessions to discuss the program, student requirements, fees and other program details. Students must attend one of the sessions to enroll in the fall classes. The first session will take place Sept. 7 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., and a second session will take place Sept. 8 from 6-7 p.m. Both sessions will be held in the auditorium of Building 8.