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ONTARIO, CA—“How many of you want to come back and make pizzas?”
Executive Chef Daly Cruz knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it for himself as an enthusiastic cohort of local high school culinary arts students wrapped up a recent backstage tour of Cruz’ kitchen – while showcasing some of their own cooking skills – at the Ontario Convention Center.
Nearly 50 students from Ontario High School and Montclair High School spent the morning getting an intimate look at one of the region’s major event centers and hearing from the executive chef and others on career opportunities in the booming hospitality industry.
The tour was organized by leaders of the Convention Center, Greater Ontario California (GOCAL) and the Chaffey Joint Union High School District as part of the District’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for 21st century career opportunities.
“Partnering with businesses is a critical component of our career pathway initiatives, and we are so grateful to the Convention Center and Chef Cruz for providing invaluable insight into the opportunities that exist in the hospitality industry,” said Dr. Mathew Holton, Chaffey District Superintendent.
Michael Krouse, CEO of GOCAL and the Convention Center, said building a pipeline of future workers will further establish Greater Ontario and the Inland Empire as Southern California newest destination. According to the California Employment Development Department, the hospitality industry employs more than 180,000 people in the Inland Empire, ranking it among the Top 5 employment categories in the two-county region. Demand for chefs, cooks and food servers is expected to surge over the next decade, with a projected net increase of 47,000 jobs.
“These are good jobs that will support families, allow restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses to flourish, and enhance the quality of life of our region. Working closely with our school partners is an important step in ensuring that we can continue to grow this vital industry,” Krouse said.
The students from Ontario and Montclair seemed eager to jump at the opportunity as Cruz, one of the most distinguished chefs in the region, shared his own career journey, from working as a dishwasher to cooking at restaurants to now leading a culinary team that serves hundreds of thousands of customers across multiple locations each year. Along the way, he has earned a reputation as one of the most distinguished chefs in the region.
“I started young and, now, after 30 years in the business, I still feel like it’s my first day because I’m having so much fun,” Cruz said. “Cooking is like art. It is an expression, and I love it when I get to see how pleased our clients are with what we have prepared them.”
To drive that point home, the Executive Chef had the students try their hand at making pizzas, guiding them through the process of kneading and tossing the dough, adding just the right amount of sauce and cheese, and using a professional oven. It was a chance for the students to express their creativity – a pizza in the shape of a pumpkin, anyone? – while also getting a taste of a high-volume kitchen environment.
The experience was a success, said Eduardo Zaldivar, the Chaffey District’s Director of Career Readiness.
“Several of these students were already excited about potential careers as chefs. What they and the others experienced today made a lasting impression as they explore the opportunities ahead of them,” Zaldivar said.
As for Cruz, he sees a pipeline of eager, young chefs heading his way, sooner than later: “We’ve got jobs now that many of these kids could do on the weekends and after school.”
