Culinary Arts Overview
South Dade Senior High’s Culinary Arts Magnet offers a hands-on, industry-aligned program designed for students who are passionate about cooking, baking, and hospitality management. Through a blend of theory, practice, and leadership development, students gain the knowledge and skills to pursue careers or further education in the hospitality industry.
Students train in a fully equipped commercial kitchen, applying principles of food safety, nutrition, menu planning, and restaurant operations. The program integrates the Hospitality & Tourism Career Cluster standards from the Florida Department of Education.
Certifications & Industry Credentials
- ServSafe Food Safety Manager Certification
- Food Handler Certification – required under Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.
- First Aid and Sanitation Safety Training integrated into coursework.
- Students may also compete in FCCLA and SkillsUSA Culinary & Baking events for scholarship and industry opportunities.
What You’ll Learn
- Culinary and hospitality management foundations
- Food safety and sanitation (HACCP standards)
- Knife skills, cooking methods, and baking science
- Nutrition, menu planning, and global cuisines
- Catering, cost control, and entrepreneurship
- Event management, sustainability, and customer service
- Advanced baking, garde manger, and gastronomy techniques
Course Sequence
9th Grade Culinary Arts 1
Introduces the food service industry, workplace safety, employability skills, equipment use, and basic food science. Students learn foundational kitchen techniques, recipes, and sanitation standards.
10th Grade: Culinary Arts 2
Focuses on food safety certification, nutrition principles, international cuisines, and front-of-house vs. back-of-house operations. Students demonstrate plating, presentation, and professional service skills.
11th Grade: Culinary Arts 3
Emphasizes advanced cooking, baking, purchasing, and management techniques. Students explore entrepreneurship, leadership, and laws governing hospitality operations.
12th Grade: Culinary Arts 4
Students specialize in an advanced pathway:
- Track 1 – Culinary & Hospitality Management: Focuses on restaurant and event management, marketing, cost control, and entrepreneurship.
Real-World Experience and Buc Café
Students operate within a professional-grade kitchen, applying culinary skills in school events, catering functions, and competitive showcases. Advanced students may engage in OJT (On-the-Job Training) or internships at local restaurants and hospitality venues, developing leadership and customer service expertise.
A highlight of South Dade’s Culinary Arts program is our student-operated Buc Café, a fully functioning learning enterprise that opens once a month to serve faculty, staff, and students. Under the guidance of their instructor, Lois Barrett, students develop, plan, and execute each menu—from concept and recipe testing to preparation and service. They also manage marketing, budgeting, sales, and ingredient procurement, gaining firsthand experience in culinary entrepreneurship. Beyond monthly café service, the Buc Café team caters events for the school and local community, showcasing professionalism, creativity, and teamwork. This hands-on experience reinforces classroom learning and prepares students for the fast-paced world of food service and hospitality.
Career Outlook & Next Steps
Graduates can pursue roles such as:
- Line Cook / Pastry Assistant / Food Prep Worker
- Event or Catering Coordinator
- Restaurant or Hospitality Manager
- Entrepreneur / Small Business Owner
They are well prepared to enter postsecondary programs in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Nutrition, or Baking & Pastry Arts at colleges such as Miami Dade College or Johnson & Wales University.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Affiliation
South Dade’s Culinary Arts program proudly partners with FCCLA — Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a nationally recognized Career and Technical Student Organization that empowers students to become leaders in family and consumer sciences, culinary arts, and hospitality. Through FCCLA, our students showcase their culinary creativity, professionalism, and teamwork in regional, state, and national competitions such as Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry, Hospitality, and Event Management. Members also participate in leadership conferences, community service projects, and industry networking events, developing real-world skills that complement their classroom learning. FCCLA transforms our Buccaneers into confident leaders who are career-ready, community-minded, and future-focused.