MVCTC Culinary Café Opens for School Year
Englewood, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC), Culinary Arts program, opened the doors to the Café on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. The MVCTC Culinary Café offers a new menu weekly when the café is in operation. All food prepared by MVCTC high school students under the instructor’s supervision. The Café is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
One of many goals as a district, is to allow the student to gain the optimal education in their program of choice and academic courses. Students apply their knowledge and skills by operating a fully functional café.
The dedicated MVCTC instructors, Chef Cortney Bergbigler and Chef Elizabeth Gratton, are both alumni of the MVCTC Culinary Arts program, with extensive restaurant experience. The district is thrilled to have them back as instructors to teach the next generation of culinary professionals.
Chef Elizabeth (Liz) Gratton graduated from the program in 2004 and started her career in the MVCTC Advanced Placement program as a Culinary Arts student working her senior year in a corporate restaurant, O'Charley's. After MVCTC, Liz went to Johnson & Wales University and completed her Advanced Standing Associates of Science in Culinary Arts Degree and then earned her Bachelor of Business in Hospitality Management at The Ohio State University. She received her Career Technical Licensure from Wright State University. Liz worked as a chef at the Vanderbilt Hall Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island. She completed an internship with Johnson & Wales University at the Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Waters, England. Liz helped start the chef program with Kroger Marketplace stores. She was hired in the very first group of chefs, completed training in Cincinnati, and then began moving around opening Marketplace stores in Southwest Ohio. She worked her way through college at a privately owned brewery and restaurant in downtown Columbus, the Elevator Brewery. Liz completed her internship through OSU at the Courtyard by Marriott in Springfield. Finally, Lis was with Olive, an Urban Dive before starting at MVCTC as a Culinary Art instructor.
Chef Cortney Weber Bergbigler graduated from the Culinary Arts program in 2000. At the encouragement of her instructors and Chef SteveTaylor at Meadowbrook County Club where she working during her senior year, Cortney enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She earned her associate's degree in culinary arts and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in restaurant management. Following her graduation, she worked at Walt Disney World as a chef at the Animal Kingdom Restaurant and also at the Yacht and Beach Club where she continued to learn. She left Florida for a job as dining room manager at Ardsley County Club in New York where she was in charge of the staff of servers, menu selection, and managing both the formal and informal dining rooms. Cortney had the opportunity to help open a new restaurant “Double O Grill” in New York where she was the manager that oversees the daily operations and a staff of seventy-five for the 400-seat restaurant. She was also a mentor at the Culinary Institute of America.
Dedicated to providing premier educational choices and advanced employment preparation for youth, adults, and organizations, MVCTC has proudly served the Miami Valley since 1971.
For more information about MVCTC, please visit www.mvctc.com.
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Picture - The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Culinary Café is open to serve the public, Wednesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Make sure to check the MVCTC website for most current schedule and menu.
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We are dedicated to providing premier educational choices and advanced employment preparation for youth, adults, and organizations of the Miami Valley.
