Fresh Starts Culinary Academy stands at the center of Homeward Bound's job-training program. Operated as a partnership with the Marin County Office of Education's Regional Occupation Program, the program opened in 2000 at New Beginnings Center.

Students at Fresh Starts Culinary Academy enroll in a five-month course in cooking basics and food service called "Professional Culinary Occupations," which is designed to prepare participants for jobs in the busy culinary industry. The class includes food preparation and safety, recipe sizing, kitchen organization, food service and introduces students to a variety of foods and cooking practices through hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art training kitchen. Field trips and guest lectures round out the curriculum, which is led by Homeward Bound's Director of Culinary Education, Carol Menard.

Based on industry standards and recognized by the National Restaurant Association, the class is the only one in Marin County that allows students to earn the national Safe Food Handling Certification. All restaurants must have someone on staff with this certification.

Fresh Starts Culinary Academy has graduated dozens of students into the work force. They have been employed by Homeward Bound of Marin and our Fresh Starts Catering business, and with employers like Safeway, Whole Foods Market, Starbucks, Beth's Fine Desserts and The Cheesecake Factory.

This class is open to the public, as well as to Homeward Bound residents. If you are interested in finding out more, please email Carol Menard at cmenard (at) hbofm.org or call 415-382-3363 x231.