EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)- The El Paso Community College (EPCC) Culinary Arts hosted its inaugural summer symposium for youth pursuing careers in the food and hospitality industry on Monday at the EPCC Administrative Services Center.

The El Paso Community College Culinary program was host to a two-day culinary symposium for local high school sudents Monday, June 12, 2023. The program will continue Tuesday.
EPCC Chef instructor Patrick Rosser, left, demonstrated sausage casing to high school students Monday. Miguel Montalvo, right of Pebble Hills High School helpled coil the sausage.
Diego Hernandez, left, an EPCC culinary student, explained how to properly prepare seedlings for growth outside the EPCC culinary program green house Monday, June 12.
Dilan Herrera, left, and Derric Rojas where shown how to prepare a dessert during a 2-day culinary symposium Monday, June 12, 2023. Photos courtesy of EPCC

EPCC chefs and local EPCC culinary alumni held workshops and classes on a variety of topics including sausage smoking and grilling, molecular cooking and aquaponics.

Featured guest and 2023 James Beard nominee Emiliano Marentes conducted workshops on the art of traditional corn tortilla making. 

In addition, the symposium aimed to inspire and ignite passion in young culinarians by providing innovative, hands-on workshops, a pathway to higher education and successful integration into the food industry.