WCCC Culinary Class Winter Banquet Celebration

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 

DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR

TED SAKAI
DIRECTOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec. 4, 2014

WOMEN’S PRISON CULINARY CLASS HOLD WINTER BANQUET CELEBRATION

HONOLULU — The culinary class made up of female inmates at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) held their Winter Banquet Celebration today to feature some of the cuisine they have learned to create.  The class is taught by Chef Lee Shinsato of Kapiolani Community College.  This banquet was their midterm examination.

The banquet theme was exotic cuisine that takes you around the United States.  Their dishes included Chicken Panzanella Salad, Herbed Haricot Vert, Miso Edamame Fried Rice, Chicken Roulade, Banh Mi Sliders, Stuffed Aburage Purses, and a Raspberry Cheesecake Parfait. (Don’t worry if you can’t say half of that.. neither could we.  Pictures are below.)

This menu was created by the students in the beginner class.  The women work their way through an intermediate level class and an advanced class.  Once all three levels are completed they will graduate from the culinary program and receive a certificate from the Kapiolani Community College.  They will also earn 14 credits that will appear in their University of Hawaii transcripts.

“This culinary program give the women real-life job skills, but it’s not just about that. It gives their lives purpose and teaches them self-esteem and a higher focus,” said Public Safety Director Ted Sakai.  “When these women leave prison they will be able to find advanced jobs in the culinary field that will help them stay on the right path so they don’t come back to prison”.

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Pictured: WCCC Culinary Class with their instructor Chef Lee Shinsato in the middle, and assistant instructor Chef Mark “Gonzo” Gonzalez on the far left.