Students in the Culinary Arts program at Hawaii Community College-Palamanui in Kailua-Kona received a special treat Oct. 3, when a guest chef joined the class to share his dessert-making expertise.
Chef Jose Calpito was born and raised on the Big Island and now is a pastry cook at The Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast. He joined the patisserie class at the Palamanui campus thanks to a partnership with the Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation.
“Chef Calpito’s visit was a great opportunity for students to learn from an expert who is currently in the industry,” said Culinary Arts instructor Paul Heerlein. “Being able to connect our students with local chefs is one of the great advantages of our program.”
Culinary students from Kealakehe High School also joined the guest lecture.
Calpito graduated from Kealakehe High School, studied culinary arts on Oahu and has worked for restaurants on the Big Island and Oahu and at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.
The Culinary Arts program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation. The program offers an associate of applied science degree, with hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students for success in the restaurant industry.