Canutillo, TX (October 12, 2009) -- Canutillo High School has officially opened its student-run cafe called “Chefs”. The grand opening was held Thursday, October 8 in the school’s Culinary Arts classroom and will operate every Thursday to serve lunch for school officials and faculty.
Under the direction of Chef Charlie Simpson, students have transformed the classroom into a sit-down café fully equipped with an assembly line for food production.
"I want to give the students a real-world understanding of what really goes on in a kitchen-- the preparation involved, the ordering, inventory, and making money for the program," said Chef Simpson. Some of the dishes students are serving up include- Chicken Chipotle on a Ciabatta, and Tortilla Soup.
The idea behind the student-run café is to give CHS students the skills necessary to obtain a job in the culinary arts field. “The students who take the program seriously and want to advance in the industry will now be better prepared before they leave because of the hands-on practice they are getting,” explains Chef Simpson.
Canutillo ISD began its Culinary Arts program last year. Chef Simpson says it was the students who wanted to take the program a step further by opening the café. Run like a real restaurant, the students are responsible for the front of the house, as well as the kitchen operations. It’s not just about cooking. Through the program, students also get to understand the business aspect of operating a restaurant, so that it is profitable. “We wanted to make it as real as we could,” says Simpson. [Download Press Release]

Students from Canutillo High School’s (CHS) culinary arts program recently participated in the Sixteenth Annual Rotary Clubs of El Paso Celebrity Chef Gala, held at the El Paso Convention Center. CHS’s culinary students worked with El Paso’s most celebrated chefs from fifteen different area restaurants.
More than 800 people attended the gala that raised funds to support scholarships for medical students at Texas Tech Paul L. Foster Medical School. Some of the participating restaurants included Ardovino’s Desert Crossing, The Italian Kitchen, Gidjums Bakery, Camino Real, Lancer’s Club, The Greenery, BJ’s Café, Il Posto Italiano, and the Convention Center.
CHS culinary arts club students who worked along side restaurant owners and chefs were Aaron Melendez, Mario Gonzalez, Gina Medina, Justine Milam, Adriana Enriquez, David Galvan, and Chef Charlie Simpson, CHS culinary arts instructor. The students helped prepare and serve dishes including appetizers, salads, main courses and desserts.
“My students loved the event, experiencing tasting a range of dishes prepared by the various restaurants. The kids can’t wait until next year’s event,” said Chef Simpson.