Colorado high schoolers get restaurant experience through internship program
The restaurant industry is always changing, but one thing stays consistent – the need for good workers. Colorado Restaurant Foundation is developing new hospitality workers through its Culinary Bridge Program, which is a paid internship program.
As Urban Field Pizza was getting ready to open a location in Loveland, Emerson Sanford was there to witness it all.
"It's just kind of really fun creating this thing, being a part of bringing this thing up, and like the community that gathers around it," Sanford told CBS News Colorado.
Sanford is an intern at Urban Field Pizza through the Culinary Bridge Program.
"I'm working here as a prep cook, right now," he explained.
He's getting real world experience with a real world culinary expert. Nick Swanson is culinary director and co-owner of the restaurant; and he has years of experience in the industry.
"For 6-months, I cut three cases of tomatoes every single day; and now I'm pretty damn good with a knife," Swanson told CBS News Colorado.
Sanford is developing that same expertise.
"Chopping onions in a restaurant… you're going to be doing like 6-gallons of them at a time," Sanford said.
In addition to knife skills, Sanford is learning staff roles, customer service, food safety, and workstation set-up. He's also deciding if he might want to own his own restaurant someday.
"I'm only 17, so nothing is even remotely set in stone; but I'm really liking this direction, so I'm going to continue to pursue it," Sanford said.
That's all that Nick Swanson can hope for his intern – giving him a hands-on experience that he won't forget.
"If he ever wants to open up his own restaurant, he's going to see how crazy you have to be to do it because he's seen it from start to finish," Swanson added.
From start to finish, Sanford has lived the ups and downs of the culinary industry.
"I've just loved it so much," he said.
LINK: For Tickets & Information about Food & Wine Festival
Colorado Restaurant Foundation is holding its annual Food & Wine Festival. Proceeds from the festival help fund programs like Culinary Bridge Program. Food & Wine Festival runs September 4 – September 7, 2024 on the Tivoli Quad on the Denver Auraria Campus.