Culinary Arts

The short order kitchen at Fox Valley Technical College is humming with energy. Knives slice through tomatoes and walnuts with precision, while the snap of oil hitting a pan competes with the rhythmic whir of a blender. This is the scene on Friday mornings as a team of students and instructors prepare for the upcoming

One hour. Two burners. Three courses. Yes, Chef! Fox Valley Technical College hosted high school culinary teams from around Wisconsin for the 2026 ProStart® State Culinary Championship. The event, led by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, brought 12 culinary teams and four management teams to campus for a fast-paced, high-stakes day of competition. In the culinary

When Kate Konen first spoke as the student commencement speaker at Fox Valley Technical College in 2015, she was a graduate with big dreams and a plan to build a better future for her family. A decade later, she’s back. But this time, the chef is back as an alum with a story that spans

When Chef Kate Konen moves to the podium to deliver her commencement address at FVTC’s 2025 Winter Commencement, she’ll likely feel a sense of déjà vu. Ten years ago, Kate stood at the same microphone. Back then, she was speaking as a student commencement speaker, addressing her fellow graduates. Kate has had a fulfilling career

Gage Dawiedczyk didn’t set out to become a chef. At 14, he started out washing dishes at a local Appleton diner, just hoping to make a bit of spending money. But a few years later, a chaotic Friday morning changed everything. When two cooks walked out during the breakfast rush, the kitchen manager turned to

Career Program: Baking and Pastry ManagementOriginally From: Highland ParkCurrent Residence: AppletonYear Started at FVTC: 2024 Why did you choose this career program? I love how food brings people together and how you can show love to people around you by sharing baked goods. I want my career to feel like I’m hosting dinner parties all the time, and that’s what a

Fox Valley Technical College’s ambitious, multi-phase renovation of its Culinary & Hospitality learning labs is nearing completion. Launched in 2023, the project has already transformed several key spaces, and now the college is turning to the community to help fund the final piece: an expansion of the Quantity Cooking Lab. Stepping up once again is

What happens when you take the classroom halfway across the world? For a group of Fox Valley Technical College students, the answer is new insights, unforgettable memories and a deeper understanding of their fields. This May and June, FVTC had a total of four study abroad programs that gave students the chance to travel, learn

Fox Valley Technical College’s Culinary Arts students recently turned up the heat, not just in the kitchen, but in the community.   On Saturday, May 31, students from the Grilling, Smoking & BBQ class wrapped up their semester with a flavorful final exam like no other, participating in the Southside Slider Showdown, a community event and