Ryan's Graduation

Ryan graduated from the California Culinary Academy last Saturday. It was a bitter sweet ending for him. He should have graduated last December with his class and girlfriend, but wasn't able to do so. The program is 15 months long. He enjoyed the classes and did very well. Towards the end of the program is the externship where they work in a restaurant kitchen. Unfortunately, he had a very bad experience. The restaurant that he was at was having him work long hours without a break. That combined with working a regular job was more than Ryan could handle. Ryan didn't let us know about this until it was too late. He dropped out of the program. We were shocked and very upset, as was he. Fortunately the school was able to work with him and get him into another restaurant. But, he wouldn't be able to graduate until this was completed and the next graduation wasn't until August. He had a very positive experience with this other restaurant. We are just proud of him for sticking with it and graduating.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Masonic Temple in San Francisco. Look at all that white. All future Chefs, Pastry Chefs and Restaurant Managers. A lot of the students are from outside the country. In fact Ryan met his girlfriend at the school and she was from Bogata, Columbia. The acedemy is the 2nd top school in the Country. It is the Le Cordon Blue Program.

Here is Ryan. Doesn't he look so handsome in his Chef uniform?

And the Proud Parents.

After the ceremony we went to the school campus. They had a feast prepared for us!!! All the classrooms had food stations. There were appetizers, seafood, carved roast beef, Dim Sum and dessert...just to name a few.



And the best part...dessert. Here is Banana's Foster and a sampling of desserts.