The Culinary Arts department has taken up three new seasonal business projects this semester, selling chocolates, Thanksgiving side dishes and holiday cookies to raise money for classroom projects.
Students who sold chocolates, known as the Tiger Chocolatiers, offered a variety of chocolate treats to students and teachers at the end of last month in honor of Halloween.
Students could purchase candy before and after school, and teachers had candy delivered during fourth through sixth period. The Tiger Chocolatiers sold chocolate-covered strawberries and cherries, mini candy bars, peanut butter cups, chocolate cookies and pretzel bark.
The chocolate-covered strawberries sold out quickly.
“They were such a big hit that we actually had to go out and buy more for our afternoon sales,” culinary instructor Clarence Dillard said.
Sophomore Dylan Morse, who took chocolate orders from students and faculty, said the Tiger Chocolatiers grossed over $200 in sales.
“It was so great being at the front and being shocked by the sheer number of people. I’m so grateful to everyone who helped support us at the Chapel Hill culinary department,” Morse said.
The culinary department will use the money to buy new supplies throughout the year and support new projects they want to try. Money from sales will also go toward senior meals, a project in which senior culinary students get to cook a meal they have always wanted to make.
Culinary 2 and 3 students worked on the project for about three weeks developing the menu, advertising and cooking in the lab, allowing students to harness their creativity and culinary skills.
“I think they put a lot of themselves into it,” Dillard said. “With some of the little miniature candy bars, kids put pretty sprinkles and M&Ms and other stuff on them, which was not part of the recipe. They were able to add just a little bit extra to it to make it a little more impressive!”
Students said they loved being a part of the project, and getting to recreate these classic candies for sale. Sophomore Sully Springer said that he believes working on the project allowed all of the students to grow as bakers.
“As one of the bakers in this recent Tiger Chocolatiers event, I can safely say that the process that we went through was nothing more than an enlightening experience,” he said. “While we were amidst the cooking process, we got to work on and witness many different great types of childhood candies be re-created in our own special, homemade way.”
The culinary department will have its next seasonal sale in November, offering Thanksgiving sides. The original idea was to bake pumpkin pies, but students wanted to cook savory foods for the holiday. Teachers will be able to purchase mac and cheese, green bean casserole, pumpkin pies and stuffing they can warm up on Thanksgiving.
And while students aren’t permitted to purchase the Thanksgiving sides, they will be able to buy Christmas cookies that will be on sale for two days in December.
