Organization: Hot Bread Kitchen
Title: Lead Culinary Instructor
Nominated by: Taylor Stevens, The Hot Bread Kitchen Team
Chef Barbara Duarte began working as the assistant culinary instructor for our Culinary Fundamentals program in October 2022, and was promoted to lead instructor in May 2023. As the lead instructor of the Culinary Fundamentals program, Chef Barbara oversees the member cohort and kitchen team at Hot Bread Kitchen’s primary location in Chelsea Market. This program provides hands-on instruction of basic culinary and baking techniques, food safety, and other kitchen fundamentals. People who complete this program are placed in high-quality entry level jobs in the food industry with employers. On a day-to-day basis, Chef Barbara provides hands-on instruction to our members to develop their culinary skills and prepare them for successful careers in the food industry. In addition to providing culinary instruction, Chef Barbara works closely with each member to ensure their success in the program. Whether that be providing guidance on how to improve particular culinary skills or helping to connect individuals to necessary social support services, Chef Barbara’s personal attention to each member is the key ingredient to this program’s success. For the job placement process after members complete the program, Chef Barbara provides invaluable insight on each person, their kitchen strengths and challenges, their personality, leadership and teamwork skills, and anything else that may help inform what types of employment opportunities would be best for each individual.
In addition to her impressive culinary skills and professional experience, Chef Barbara’s talent as an educator is what leads Culinary Fundamentals participants to success. Her holistic, individualized approach sets each member on the path of success based on their specific strengths, skills, and passions. Chef Barbara’s teaching philosophy is to make culinary training more accessible by incorporating recipes and techniques from the wide variety of backgrounds represented in her kitchen. From her experience, incorporating culinary expertise from the different parts of the world represented in Hot Bread Kitchen’s membership promotes empowerment, which builds confidence, and significantly increases connectivity between members. The impact of her methods have extended beyond the program she leads, and into other Hot Bread Kitchen programs where these methods are also being incorporated. Chef Barbara also created an assessment and feedback process that is being utilized throughout other culinary programs. This process gives members personalized feedback/improvement areas and coaching from our lead instructors so they can be as successful as possible in their careers. Under Chef Barbara’s kitchen leadership, 8 Culinary Fundamentals cohorts have graduated, kickstarting 200+ careers in the culinary industry. These numbers only account for the members who have directly participated in Chef Barbara’s program. The contributions she has made to our curriculum and assessment processes will continue to impact the success of countless members across the organization.
SPECIAL ALERT!
Thanks to a generous donation from a founding Catalyst Kitchens board member and friend of David Carleton, the Catalyst Kitchen’s Founder’s Fund has an opportunity to raise matching funds up to $5,000 during this year’s Catalyst for Change Award Season!
This is a time-limited opportunity to get your gift matched! Donate now by clicking the button below, before the window closes to double your generosity and impact!
Here are the 2024 Catalyst for Change. As you read their stories, consider supporting the work of Catalyst Kitchens and our members, enabling the amazing impact of frontline staff like our nominees.
