Sophomores Justin Mace, left, Naomi Bowling, center, and freshman Hannah McCullough, right, work together to make food for their Bulldog Bistro, which serves faculty and staff. (Photo Provided)

WEST UNION — A culinary program is in full swing at Doddridge County High School thanks to Chef Annette Benson.

The Prostart program started last year for the county after Superintendent Adam Cheeseman suggested offering the program for their students. Although several other counties have similar programs in place, it is new to Doddridge County.

Cheeseman was inspired to form their own program after attending a meeting in Preston County where superintendents all over the state were served professional food and hospitality by students.

“(It was) something very special and unique, the skills those kids were learning about cooking, baking, hospitality and communication; all these skills are skills that can benefit kids and students in any profession they choose to do,” Cheeseman said. After approval from the coordinator and school principal, Benson was brought on for the project, bringing her expertise as a trained chef. Cheeseman said having a chef as an instructor is unique in all school systems.

“She’s really taken this program to the next level,” he said. “We just wanted to start the program as another opportunity for our students.”

Junior Simon James works in the kitchen as part of the Culinary Prostart program at Doddridge County High School. (Photo Provided)

Since not all students share the same interests, Cheeseman said they strive to offer a variety of opportunities.

Before Benson came on board, a full commercial kitchen was in place.

The program has seen growth over the past year. About 20 students participated last year but this year Benson said her class is full with 46 students.

“This is a professional program, the students come in and they learn pretty much how to run and work in a restaurant; it’s not home economics; it’s for a career in technical education, right in the high school,” Benson said.

Two programs are in place in their Prostart program, including culinary and baking and pastry courses. The culinary students manage and run a restaurant, Bulldog Bistro, to provide meals for faculty and staff members.

This gingerbread house was created by Rylee Spurlock as part of the Prostart program at Doddridge County High School. (Photo Provided)

Their menu has about five items along with daily specials and features soups, salads and hoagies of the week.

“Everything is made from raw ingredients; they’re learning to cook for a restaurant with raw ingredients,” Benson said.

Meals are sold for $5 and the proceeds go back into the Prostart program, Cheeseman said.

Benson’s baking and pastry program was designed for the state, she said.

Two different paths are offered to students of the programs. Students either have the option of going directly into the workforce or to attend culinary school to improve their skills.

“They’ve been given some of the tools needed to work efficiently right from high school,” Benson said.

She focuses on teaching knife skills, sanitation and how to use restaurant equipment.

“There’s a lot of different avenues they can take with culinary, even if they wanted to go into college with a dietary or nutritionist avenue; they have the tools that are going to be helpful,” Benson said.

Next March students will compete in the statewide Hospitality Cup. A culinary team and a management team will compete. The culinary team will plan and prepare a five star menu for a panel of judges.

The management team will come up with an idea for a restaurant and pitch it to the judges as if they are potential investors for the restaurant. Seven students will participate in that event.