Have you ever wanted to open your own bakery? Or impress someone with your baking skills? Whatever interest you have, Fayetteville Technical Community offers it in their new Baking & Pastry Arts curriculum.
The new program took its first run in the Fall 2023 semester with 24 students and all students have continued on into Spring 2024 taking classes.
Savanna White has a goal of owning her own artisan bread bakery. “I originally was in the regular Culinary Arts degree program at FTCC, but had to come back as soon as they started the new Baking & Pastry Arts because that is what I have always wanted to do,” she said.
This is a general admission program; there is no GPA requirement to apply. Anyone can take courses towards a degree or certificate and achieve a dream of becoming a chef or learn fun new skills.
The associate degree will be one of four options for Baking & Pastry Arts starting Fall 2024. The program will also be adding three new certificate options:
- Cake Decorating
- Pastry Chef
- Bakeshop Foundations
“I am a retired paramedic and used to teach here at FTCC,” said Cindy Mains, a student in the Artisan & Specialty Breads course. “I started with a culinary certificate because I love to bake and needed something new to do, but I stayed for the associate degree because it is a fantastic program and Chef Santucci is a great chef and instructor.”
Before the new program started, students only had the options of taking Baking I and Baking II. There was no separate concentration in Baking & Pastry Arts.
“Back in Baking I, when we made dough for croissants and pastries, we had to roll everything out by hand,” Savanna said. “Now with the new culinary space and equipment, we have a sheeter that helps us with the process, so we no longer have to do it all by hand.”
The department has a brand-new kitchen space full of up-to-date equipment and an attached restaurant space to give students an education workspace at the highest level.
The Baking & Pastry Arts program is solely work-based, hands-on learning. This is a highly physical program as students learn skills in the classroom and the kitchen. Students will have the opportunity to work in a local bakery to earn hours towards their 320-hour requirement needed to graduate from the program while learning skills and knowledge required for employment.
“My goal is to open my own local restaurant,” said Alerton Blandin, a student in the Culinary Arts program. “I am taking courses in Baking & Pastry Arts to help me learn presentation and add flavor to my food. It is always good to continue learning extra skills as I work on my business plan.”
Most students this semester are taking Artisan & Specialty Bread and Cake Design & Decorating. Not only do students get to create products of their own design, but they reap the benefits
of sampling all the delicious desserts made in the class.
Currently classes are only offered during the day hours, but will eventually have a night option in the future.
If baking has always been a goal of yours, now is the chance to take advantage of this new opportunity.
For more information about the Baking & Pastry Arts Program, visit our website or contact the Department Chair, Chef Sabrina Santucci, at santuccs@faytechcc.edu.
