Discover Delmarva Arts: Serving Up Success
NEWARK, Md. — In Worcester County Technical High School’s culinary and pastry arts program, students go beyond learning how to bake sweet treats: they’re learning what it takes to turn their passion into a successful business.
“They learn all the foundations: they learn knife skills, they learn nutrition, management, sanitation, and then they go through the whole baking process from quick breads to yeast breads to dinner rolls, cakes, torts, gateau, pâte à choux, desserts, etc.,” Executive Chef Phillip Cropper said.
After students finish their junior year, they can work at The Pines Café, the program’s teaching kitchen. There, they gain hands-on learning experience, with all proceeds going right back into the program. “They’re learning from former students who finished the program last year that are now manager/mentors at the café. They’re doing every aspect of the business. They’re learning from a school-based enterprise. They’re doing purchasing, receiving, payroll, costing… They sign a non-disclosure agreement, and they have full disclosure to everything. They see the sales, the numbers, the payroll, they’re learning how to run and set up their own business.”
A proud Worcester County native, Chef Cropper brings the flavors of home straight into the school’s kitchen — partnering with local dairy farms and seafood providers so students can craft upscale versions of Eastern Shore staples like crab cakes and Smith Island cake with ingredients sourced right here on Delmarva.
“We have a twenty-one raised-bed garden program that we grow local produce in. We give away about 750 pounds to the community, and then we use everything else at banquets and events at school and at The Pines Café.”
And for students like Dnijah, it’s the hands-on experience that matters most — measuring, mixing, plating, and perfecting skills that just can’t be taught on paper. “I think it teaches you different things to equip you to be better. I’m learning different stuff that I might not have known yet.”
