Culinary School Spotlight: Marilyn Roman
June 27, 2018
By Ashley Stahmer, Communications Intern
Before applying to The Culinary School, Marilyn Roman was a studio manager for JCPenney’s professional portrait studio. While she liked the artistic aspect of photography, she always knew she wanted to go into the culinary field. She says, “I always loved cooking. I’ve been cooking since I was eight years old.”
Marilyn learned of the Food Bank’s program through Delaware WONDER, a job readiness program partnered with The Culinary School. Marilyn’s main goal is to open a food truck or restaurant that would serve Puerto Rican and Peruvian food. She’s also set to audition for MasterChef, a competitive cooking show open to amateur and home chefs, in November. “I want to win MasterChef, because the bragging rights would be really cool,” she says. “It would be great for my restaurant, too.”
If it were not for the culinary program, Marilyn says she would still be pursuing her goals, but it would not be as easy. She was planning to start her culinary career in catering but didn’t have the necessary certifications or commercial kitchen space. The Culinary School has helped Marilyn pursue her goals and explore more opportunities. “The program is leading me into the right direction to get all of my certifications,” she points out. This is helping me get all of my ducks in a row, and then I can move forward to where I want to be.”
The Culinary School has helped prepare Marilyn for a career in the food industry, not only through the skills she’s learned but also through the people she’s worked with. “We all really work well together. All of us have a task to do in the kitchen, but if one of us sees another one struggling, we help each other out,” she says.
Marilyn is thankful for the opportunities she’s had and encourages other people to apply to The Culinary School. She truly believes there’s no time like the present to pursue your goals. “Some people are afraid of moving forward. Don’t be afraid; just move forward and continue with your plans. The longer you wait, the longer it’s going to take for you to get there,” she advises.
Interested in a career in the food service industry? Click here to learn more about The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware!
