Archive for August, 2012

Not a Potluck!

2012/08/25

A Public Event is an event attended by individuals from the general public whether or not a fee is charged or advertised with flyers, banners, newspapers article, radio or television announcements or on an Internet website as being open to the public.  In other words, a public event is any group function to which people from outside the congregation are invited.

My church, Christ Lutheran in Bethesda will be holding a Community Festival in September.  It is classified as a public event so we must follow the food safety laws of the State of Maryland and the rules and regulations of Montgomery County.  With our licensed kitchen fully operational, this event cannot be a potluck!  All food must come from approved sources such as a restaurant, store, or be cooked in a licensed facility with a Certified Food Service Manager on duty.  If church members want to contribute food to this event, they may either purchase it ready-to-eat or buy ingredients and prepare/cook the food in our Luther Hall kitchen facilities.

Information about the rules and regulations for food service facilities can be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland (COMAR) Title 10, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Subtitle 15 Food, Chapter 03 Food Service Facilities at http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/

Posted in Food & Culinary Arts, General, Maryland, Montgomery County | 1 Comment »

Culinary Arts Job Training

2012/08/20

On June 9, 2012, the People-4-People Employment Assistance Program launched a Culinary Arts Job Training Program for unemployed persons seeking employment in the food service industry.  Students received instructions in food safety, practical kitchen skills, as well as job readiness training.

This pilot program was sponsored by seven Montgomery County churches (Immanuel’s Church, People’s Community Baptist Church, Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, Resurrection Baptist Church, Mount Jezreel Baptist Church in Silver Spring and Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Paul Catholic Church in Damascus), and Christ Lutheran non-profit GGT in Bethesda provided the licensed kitchen space.

Chef Paul and Chef DaVid are managing partners of the Chef Master CDER Café in Silver Spring.  Their company, ChefMaster.org of Metro DC, was hired to provide the Culinary Arts Job Training.  Both chefs are Certified Instructors and Registered Proctors for the National Restaurant Association ServSafe® course.

Instruction was held on 3 Saturdays in June and 3 Saturdays in July at the Christ Lutheran non-profit Graceful Growing Together (GGT) licensed kitchen in Bethesda.  An additional evening of preparation for the graduation reception was held at the Chef Master CDER Café.

At the graduation ceremony held at the Lutheran Church of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, students showcased their new culinary skills for 77 friends, relatives and invited guests.

Several of the Culinary Arts Job Training students have passed the ServSafe® proctored examination.  Some have honed their skills by volunteering at the Chef Master CDER Café or for the Bethesda Cares Farm to Freezer program.  So far one student has taken a field trip to a commercial supplier where restaurants shop.

People-4-People Employment Assistance Program personnel will continue to work with and mentor students for a full year.

Posted in DC, Food & Culinary Arts, General, Maryland, Montgomery County, Virginia, Washington DC Region | Leave a Comment »