All Occasions Catering is proud to be a part of MATC’s Culinary Arts Board Committee. Owner Mark Andersen was recently asked to join the committee to contribute his knowledge and ideas gained from years of experience in the catering industry. Andersen sees this as mutually beneficial as it allows him to get a glimpse into the future of what’s “up and coming” in Milwaukee’s culinary scene. “I’m happy to share my experiences and help shape the curriculum. It’s really cool to be a part of the industry’s education arm on a local level.”
Andersen recently toured the campus with Lead Faculty and Department Chairperson, Paul Carrier, who was quoted in a recent article in BizTimes magazine reporting more people have enrolled into the Culinary Arts program at MATC than ever before. As a catering business owner, Andersen was happy to learn the pipeline is being filled with ambitious people who really have a passion for the culinary arts. ”We had some really good conversations about the shift in the culinary landscape. Students today are encouraged to be more inspired and inventive, making food more of an experience. It’s really refreshing.”
As the tour continued, Mark observed students in action as they learned knife skills and fine dining instruction such as presentation and plating. “I hope to provide perspective and help form a curriculum that is current and relevant to today’s trends which are constantly evolving. I’m really excited to see how these culinary students will contribute to Milwaukee’s dining scene.”
Another exciting aspect of the MATC program is the Student Food Pantry. All students can receive free, prepared meals to heat at a later time, and they have access to healthy foods and beverages as well as essential items they can bring home. The food is provided by Feeding America and presented in a market-style shopping experience. Students are encouraged to shop weekly! In turn, culinary students donate their talents to prepare locally sourced (when available), high quality, flavorful meals at a highly discounted price at MATC’s culinary lab, Cuisine Restaurant. High end items like duck are occasionally prepared so students can experience new foods and flavors. The menu is constantly changing so locally sourced foods can be used seasonally. Cuisine is open to the public and reservations are required.
If you’d like to learn more about Cuisine and help support this local culinary arts program, please, check out the menu and make a reservation!