| Frequently
Asked Questions
Where
do I get information on textbooks that I will need?
All textbooks can be
purchased at the ACC Eastview Campus Bookstore. You can also
purchase Chef jackets at the bookstore.
What
do I need to do after I enroll in ACC?
We like to meet with each student
and discuss your degree plan. Contact Virginia Lawrence at 223-5174 to schedule an
appointment if you are a Hospitality, Travel and Tourism or Meeting and
Event Planning major. Contact Brian Hay at 223-5173 if you are a
Culinary Arts major.
What
tools and uniforms will I need for the Culinary Program?
What
are the uniform requirements for the school?
Please
refer to the syllabus in question. However, for any student working
in the labs or performing and Entrée event, you must be proper a chef
uniform in order to work in the kitchen.
How
to maintain your chef jackets?
Over
the years, I have found that the greatest friend in the world is a can of
Scotchguard. THE RED CAN ONLY!!!!!!!!! Scotchguard is a
chemical made by 3M that will make anything waterproof. My
suggestion is to go to any grocery store and purchase 2 cans per jacket
that you wish to treat. Wash your jacket the first time and dry it
completely. Outdoors, in well ventilated areas, take one can and
following the manufacturer’s directions, spray the entire can into the
jacket completely soaking the material throughout. Let the jacket
dry completely (hopefully not on a windy day since all types of bugs,
twigs, leaves, etc. will stick n the jacket). Wash, dry and repeat
the process with the second can. Wash and dry it again. Very
little will be able to penetrate into the material and your jackets will
remain stain free for years. I still have jackets that look brand
new after years of repeated use.
How
to purchase chef clothes and where to get them in town?
There
are many locations in town to purchase your clothes. You may also go
online and purchase your clothes from various sources across the web. My
suggestion is to go and hand pick your first jacket and try it on before
you try mail order. Chef jackets are like purchasing any other type
of clothing; you must try it on to determine what size will work for you.
Make sure that the jacket feels comfortable and moves with you.
Cross your arms around the front and make sure that the jacket will flow
with you. Make sure that the arm length is good and the jacket feels
good to you. You may also wish to purchase a jacket slightly larger
in size. I have found that some jackets will shrink over time and
get tight and hard to wear in comfort.
What
knives should I purchase?
Knives
come in a variety and shapes and sizes, weights handles, etc. I feel
that its important that the student find a knife that they truly feel
comfortable with since this will be more of a determining factor on how
well the student can use the knife. Knives do not need to be
expensive in order to be good for culinary use. Some of my favorite
knives I’ve picked up for as little as $10 in small shops. Please
refer to your syllabus to determine what types of knives that you will
need for your class in question. Start small and purchase only a few
knives to figure out what you are looking for in a knife.
Why
do we need to purchase index cards for the lab?
Index
cards serve a variety of purposes. First of all, all students should
copy their recipes on to the index cards for use in lab. It takes up
very little space and can fit into your chef jacket pocket for easy
storage and reference. In addition, if a student uses the
cards throughout their classes, they will compile all important recipes
that they will need to refer to for the culinary work in industry.
It’s advisable that the student has these cards either laminated or
waterproofed in order to maintain their quality for use in industry.
What
is a sharpie?
A
sharpie is a semi-permanent black marker that can write on anything from
plastic to paper to metal. This will not run when exposed to
water and is very hard to remove, making it great for use . Every
student should carry one while in lab for labeling purposes. For
regular note taking, any pencil or pen will work best.
Are there
any courses offered by Distance Learning or by Continuing Education?
Yes, we Meeting and Event Planning
courses by Distance Learning (see web schedule under Meeting and Event
Planning (http://www.austincc.edu/ce/cp/).
We also offer a wine course under the same link.
Can I
test out of classes?
Yes, students may apply to test out of
classes. They must see the Department Chair for approval.
How
much do the programs cost?
See the link for the
tuition and fee grid
link.
The approximate cost for books is about $500 and the approximate cost for
uniforms and kitchen tools is $450 (dependent on what a student desires).
What is the difference between a Certificate and a Certification?
A certificate
is a college level award given to a student who has successfully
completed a series of classes at a college. For our programs
this is recognized by all areas of our industry as important
accomplishments. A certification is an award given to an
individual by a professional organization showing mastery of a skill
set. Individuals are normally only eligible for certification
AFTER they have taken a series of both courses and have had a
certain number of years of direct experience in the industry in
which they are seeking certification in.
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