As if he weren’t already solidly booked as a chef at the Strater Hotel and raising five children with his wife, Lucy, Arnold Ngumbao is now begin overseeing the Culinary Arts Program at Manna Soup Kitchen.
Affectionately known as “Chef Safari,” he received his training in Nairobi, Kenya.
“After travelling the world, he prepared delicious meals for (Royal) Caribbean (International) cruises,” Manna said in a news release. “The chef will be sharing his expertise and passion for cooking with the students in the program.”
The program, accredited through Southwest Colorado Community College, currently has 11 students enrolled in the 16-week program. Students will learn classical cooking techniques and baking as well as food safety and sanitation skills.
Joining Chef Safari in teaching is Manna’s culinary manager McKenzie Miller, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
“Filled with a passion for creating great food and enthusiasm for watching her students grow and develop usable life and work skills, Miller will oversee the current semester of eager students,” the news release said.
Will having such a well-known chef make the program more visible in the community?
“I think it already has,” said Kathy Tonnessen, executive director of Manna Soup Kitchen. “This is going to help take the program to a whole new level. It will be interesting to see what happens with enrollment for the next semester.”
The next class will start Jan. 18 and run through May 14. The curriculum and part-time schedule is designed for nontraditional students and caters to those who are under- or unemployed, the release said. Classes are small, and the program can provide assistance with local internships, job placement and financial aid.w
abutler@durangoherald.com
To learn more
Visit www.pueblocc.edu/Programs/CUA/ to learn more about the Culinary Arts Program at Southwest Colorado Community College.
