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Delaware North chefs lead culinary career day

Several members of Delaware North’s Buffalo-based culinary teams and corporate office hosted a career day for high school seniors studying the culinary arts last month at KeyBank Center, where Delaware North provides food and beverage services at the NHL arena.

Andy Altomare, Delaware North Sportservice’s assistant general manager at KeyBank Center, spearheaded the event attended by 90 students from Erie 1 BOCES’ (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services) culinary vocational program.

“This is the second year we’ve hosted Erie 1 BOCES’s career day,” said Altomare, who has been on the BOCES advisory council since 2014. “It’s great to give back to students – providing hands-on experience and creating awareness about Delaware North and opportunities in the hospitality industry.”

The day was filled with educational and fun activities that began with a series of demonstrations led by KeyBank Center chef, including Stephen Forman, Shawn Glieco and Corey Kadish, and Mathew Nelson from Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. The topics varied from chicken fabrication (butchering) to sustainability in food service, cake decorating and career development.

The students heard from Zach Skinner, a former BOCES program participant who is now in the Delaware North chef development program, and Delaware North culinary recruiter Amy Tormey. Several local colleges and universities were also on hand to talk about their culinary programs.

After the demos, the students showed their skills in a culinary competition, toured the arena food-service operations and had lunch prepared by the chefs.