Students from Bronx Arena High School (BAHS) in Soundview recently participated in a weeklong Culinary Essentials cohort at Allie’s Place Center for Culinary Education & Employment, accompanied by their Assistant Principal, Ethan Knecht.
Bronx Arena High School is a transfer school serving at-risk and under-credited students, supporting them in re-engaging with their education through flexible curriculums, counseling, and paid Learn-to-Work internships. This collaboration provided students with an opportunity to explore hands-on culinary training in a professional environment.
Throughout the week, students worked closely with Chef Instructor Danny, Lead Chef Instructor Jayda, and Director of Culinary Education Gregorio, building foundational culinary skills while gaining confidence in the kitchen. The course emphasized practical techniques and active participation, allowing students to fully engage in the learning process.
Several students showed a strong interest in culinary career paths. One student explored an emerging passion for food photography and took photos during the workshop. Due to their standout performance during the course, two other students with prior industry experience had the chance participate in a Barista pop-up led by Chef Jayda to further sharpen their skills.
At the end of the week, each student documented their learning experience as part of the course requirements and received a certificate of completion along with a culinary-themed gift bag. Participation in the program also counted toward academic credit for graduation.
Assistant Principal Knecht expressed appreciation for the partnership and noted the high level of student engagement throughout the week.
This collaboration also highlighted the strong connections within the local community. A recent graduate of the Culinary program, Lily—who also attended Bronx Arena—completed the program in 2025 after being referred by a school counselor. After training with Chefs Gregorio and Jayda, she secured her first job at Orbital Kitchens, a software-powered cloud kitchen operating across New York City.
Located just blocks apart, Bronx Arena High School and Allie’s Place are excited to continue working together and expanding opportunities for students to explore careers in the food industry and build skills for long-term success.
