Culinary students take class in an instructional kitchen at Delaware County Community College.

(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA)—Culinary job opportunities are heating up in Pennsylvania—especially in Delaware and Chester Counties, where culinary arts is a high priority occupation. DCCC’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Studies Program is all about connecting students to those opportunities. Last month Villanova University’s culinary director and executive chef Christopher Wiseley visited DCCC Culinary Arts students in a class led by chef instructor Maria Campbell. While the students prepared soup and appetizer recipes, Chef Wiseley and Villanova talent acquisition specialist Lynn Shultz shared information about culinary roles and employee benefits at the University.

These types of experiences are facilitated by DCCC Director of Culinary Arts Chef Jonathan Fike. “There are so many great jobs in the industry, and an important part of our curriculum is helping students network with area employers and trade organizations,” he says. In addition to Villanova, the American Culinary Federation’s Philadelphia Chapter and The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association national and local offices are just some of those resources. DCCC’s Culinary Arts program offers hands-on training, highly experienced faculty with years of real-world experience, and brand-new state-of-the-art demonstration and teaching kitchens at DCCC’s new Southeast Center in Drexel Hill, opening in January.