Barren County High School Bistro gives students real world experience

GLASGOW Ky.-Culinary arts students at Barren County High School are cooking up a storm.

As of January, the Barren Bistro has opened its doors, doors that are giving students a chance to get seasoned in their craft by cooking, boxing meals, and delivering. While it’s a student driven operation, the young chefs are overseen by chef Jonathan Sackett.

“What they’re doing is getting a real-world training. The orders come in, they cook them on the grill, and then they have to put them all together. They’re doing all the steps like they’re working in a restaurant,” Sackett said.

The students said the bistro is a good opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned from chef Sackett, in addition to sharing their experiences and knowledge with each other.

“It’s nice to realize that this is coming up in the near future, and then I’ll be out there doing all this. I feel like it’s just helping better prepare me for life itself,” said Barren County High School sophomore Abbigayle Smith.

The culinary world is fast paced, which is why the students say they’re glad to be starting right now.

“My career is cooking. I like cooking and the fast pace that goes on. I’ll most definitely use this in the near future,” said Barren County High School senior Rosalyn Silbestre.

The money that’s earned goes right back into the program, so the young chefs can keep on cooking.

“If it wasn’t for an opportunity like this, most kids wouldn’t have the experience they need to get right out of high school and be work ready,” Smith said.

The students also work at the bistro on WKU’s Glasgow campus, serving breakfast on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.