Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts

Alumni Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business, Arts & Sciences Faculty & Staff

Faculty member authors instructional article for confectioners

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts, was recently published in Kettle Talk, the quarterly publication of Retail Confectioners International.

Niedermyer authored “Perfecting Artisan Ganache” for the magazine’s October/November/December issue. Ganache is traditionally made from chocolate and cream. In the article, Niedermyer shares technical guidance for substituting and adding ingredients, controlling water activity and extending shelf life, as well as his formula for ganache-centered molasses spice bonbons.

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business & Hospitality Business, Arts & Sciences Students

LJC preps homemade feast for those away from home

Madison Y. Cooper, a culinary arts technology and applied management student and part-time Le Jeune Chef cook, wraps a pan of stuffing, ready to be baked on Friday. She is from Harrisburg.

Patrick E. Hufnagle, of Antes Fort, places the dough for a batch of pumpkin cranberry rolls in a dough divider/rounder.

After its turn in the divider/rounder, the dough is portioned, shaped and ready to bake.

Hufnagle is a baking and pastry arts and applied management student, plus a part-time baker for Le Jeune Chef.

In an effort to preserve at least one tradition in a year that has been anything but normal, Le Jeune Chef staff and students are preparing a free Thanksgiving feast for the dozens of students who have opted to stay on campus during the holiday break or are isolating.

While some of the prep work was completed Wednesday, the small crew will return to campus from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday to complete and individually package the traditional, handmade Thanksgiving dinners.

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business, Arts & Sciences Students

Students display product prowess at PDC ‘trade show’

As a final project for the eight-week Bakery Operations and Product Development course, students set up a trade show in the Thompson Professional Development Center on Oct. 5. As part of the course, baking and pastry arts students develop a product line or business concept and put their marketing lessons to work by developing and staffing a display that includes product packaging, menus or price lists, business cards and other marketing materials.
Photos by Sue A. Kelley, dean of business, arts and sciences

Alumni Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business, Arts & Sciences Faculty & Staff Students

Personal chef finds self-satisfaction in cooking for others

Through a solid belief in herself and unwavering encouragement from her support system, Penn College alumna Amy (Lynn) Koral boldly quit a bakery job to become a full-time personal chef and business owner. Koral – who earned an associate degree in baking and pastry arts in 2014 and founded Cherished Meals in Oregon four years later – discusses the rewards of preparing meals and restoring her clients’ valuable time in the process. “It happened very organically, and I’m so happy to be cooking healthy meals for people each week,” she writes in a blog posting. “I love making people’s lives easier and filling their refrigerators with homemade, nourishing meals.”

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business & Hospitality Management Business, Arts & Sciences Students

Penn College announces cake competition winners

A wedding cake by baking and pastry arts student Lindsey E. Miller, of Macungie, was awarded first place in Pennsylvania College of Technology's annual wedding cake competition.

Winners have been named in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s annual wedding cake competition, with first-place honors awarded to a baking and pastry arts student from Macungie.

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business, Arts & Sciences Faculty & Staff

Kitchen ‘modernists’ complete culinary competencies

Students show off final projects for Introduction to Modernist Kitchen. From left: Ashley J. Hoffer, of Manheim; Dane S. Druckenmiller, of Hellertown; Hailey R. Dunn, of York Haven; and Rebecca E. High, of Willow Street.

Students in the course Introduction to Modernist Kitchen, taught by Chef Frank M. Suchwala, associate professor of hospitality management/culinary arts, finished their spring class competencies this week, each preparing an impressive three-course spread of appetizer, entree and dessert. The class explores the modern culinary techniques of spherification, foaming canisters, sous vide cookery, gelation, flash freezing with liquid nitrogen and avant-garde cuisine.
Photo by Chef Frank M. Suchwala, associate professor of hospitality management/culinary arts

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business, Arts & Sciences Students

Summer restaurant internship develops skills, flexibility

Resourcefulness and flexibility became the theme of a summer culinary internship for Penn College student Janelle R. Becker, of Fort Loudon, due to changes in the restaurant industry associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Pennsylvania College of Technology culinary arts student Janelle R. Becker arranged for a summer internship with a Pittsburgh restaurant, she had hoped to enhance her kitchen skills. As a result of the coronavirus, she’s also practiced resourcefulness and flexibility.

Becker, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts and systems, completed most of her internship at Alta Via Ristorante, a modern Italian restaurant in O’Hara Township, just outside the Pittsburgh city line. The restaurant, part of the big Burrito Restaurant Group, gathers its influences from the fresh cuisine of the California wine country and the mountain towns of the Italian Alps.

Becker interviewed with Alta Via early in the spring semester, making arrangements for a summer internship well before cases of the coronavirus emerged in Pennsylvania.

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business, Arts & Sciences General Information

Le Jeune Chef earns Wine Spectator Magazine award

Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, a live learning laboratory for culinary and baking and pastry arts students at Pennsylvania College of Technology, was recognized with a “Best of Award of Excellence” as part of Wine Spectator Magazine’s 2020 Restaurant Awards program.

The casual fine-dining restaurant is operated by the college’s School of Business, Arts & Sciences.

The Restaurant Awards are the focus of Wine Spectator’s July-August issue, which hit newsstands on July 14 and reaches 3.5 million readers. Information about award winners is also accessible via Wine Spectator’s website, app and free restaurant search database.

Alumni Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business & Hospitality Business, Arts & Sciences Penn College Magazine Penn College Magazine Feature

Making a difference with every dish

Chef Robert Wood, '17, stands in the dining room of Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen, a "community restaurant" in Toms River, N.J., where he is executive chef. — Chef Robert Wood, ’17, stands in the dining room of Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen, a “community restaurant” in Toms River, N.J., where he is executive chef.

The Soul Kitchen's manifesto is communicated clearly on its wall. Portions seen here. — The Soul Kitchen’s manifesto is communicated clearly on its wall. Portions seen here.

Wood and Soul Kitchen volunteers strive to provide wholesome food to clients, about half of whom pay for their meal.

Wood, one of the restaurant's three paid staff members, preps in the Soul Kitchen's restaurant. — Wood, one of the restaurant’s three paid staff members, preps in the Soul Kitchen’s restaurant.

From the Spring 2020 Penn College Magazine: Rob Wood, ’17, is executive chef for the restaurant of a literal rock star. But it’s his clients who inspire him. Read “Making a difference with every dish.”

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business, Arts & Sciences Students

Penn College shortens path to culinary careers

Pennsylvania College of Technology has added a certificate in culinary applications – which can be completed in 12 months – to its American Culinary Federation-accredited offerings. It also revised its associate degree in culinary arts technology so that it can be completed in three semesters instead of four.

Future chefs can receive an industry-respected, hands-on education in a shorter amount of time at Pennsylvania College of Technology through a new 12-month certificate in culinary applications and a revision to its associate degree in culinary arts technology that makes a degree obtainable in 16 months.

The streamlined majors allow students to enter the restaurant and food service workforce more quickly, fulfilling the demand of industry for real-world-ready culinarians, and to incur lower financial cost in pursuit of an education.

Both majors provide a robust yet compact education with extensive hands-on learning and up-to-date curriculum to meet industry needs, helping to ensure students will land jobs.

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business & Hospitality Faculty & Staff Students

DO try this at home! Le Jeune Chef’s Bananas Foster

Join Penn College Chef Troy A. Breger and George C. Gerba II, a culinary arts technology major from Williamsport, as they whip up a serving of Bananas Foster. Study the pros at work. This delectable treat is perfectly sautéed. Expertly flambéed. And paired with vanilla ice cream and a hint of mint. What’s not to love?

Alumni Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business & Hospitality Faculty & Staff

Faculty member shares foresight with Bake magazine

Chef Charles R. Niedermyer II, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts, was interviewed for the cover story in the March/April issue of Bake magazine. A two-time Penn College alumnus and a faculty member since 2005, Niedermyer was among the professionals assessing what the future holds for desserts and pastries. As patrons become increasingly discerning, he said in “Flavor Inspirations,” retail bakers need to adjust. “The key is knowing your customers, the products and services that are most important to them, and staying true to your niche,” said Niedermyer, recognized by the publication in November 2018 as one of the nation’s top 25 industry leaders. “We can’t be all things, to all customers, that walk in our doors.” The article is provided here: Bake magazine

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business & Hospitality Faculty & Staff General Information Students

Le Jeune Chef’s signature Chocolate Soup

It’s rich. It’s creamy. It’s Le Jeune Chef Restaurant’s signature Chocolate Soup. If you’ve visited the casual fine dining restaurant on Penn College’s main campus, you’ve probably tasted this craveable masterpiece. Join Chef Chris Grove and Claudia Walling, a baking and pastry arts student from Williamsport, to learn how easy it is to bring home this crowd favorite.

Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business & Hospitality Events

Facchini, acclaimed in U.S. and Italy, to lead Visiting Chef dinner

Set for April 3, Pennsylvania College of Technology’s annual Visiting Chef dinner will feature Chef Fabrizio Facchini, who has gained acclaim in both Italy and the United States.

A brand ambassador for Urbani Truffles and a champion for “slow food,” Facchini’s most recent venture is the highly anticipated opening this spring of Cotto, the restaurant inside the Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan’s Flower District.

During his three-day stay on campus, Facchini will speak in Penn College hospitality classes and work alongside students to prepare the menu he has developed for an elegant reception and four-course benefit dinner that will culminate his stay. Proceeds from the dinner are used to fund scholarships in the college’s baking and pastry arts and culinary arts majors.

Alumni Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts Business & Hospitality

Alum finishes third among ‘Chopped’ champions

Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli, a past "Chopped" champion and one of three judges for the show's "$50,000 Champs Challenge: Grand Finale" checks in on Chef Kristina Wisneski. (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

After advancing to the “Grand Finale” of a five-episode “Chopped” championship, Chef Kristina Wisneski, ’13, was eliminated in the finale’s second round, which aired Tuesday on Food Network.

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