Atlantic Cape’s Culinary Arts Students Gain Real-World Mobile Food Truck Operations Experience in Cape May County

MAYS LANDING — Students from Atlantic Cape Community College’s Academy of Culinary Arts Program are getting a first-hand look and hands-on experience in conducting professional mobile food operations by taking their talents into the community in the college’s Let’s Chow Food Truck.

As the first part of a community outreach initiative, eight culinary students, who are enrolled in the Mobile Retail Food Operations module at Atlantic Cape’s Cape May County campus, visited The Branches Outreach Center in Rio Grande on March 2 and provided freshly-cooked meals for local elderly, homeless, and marginalized individuals and families in the county.

“It is the goal of Atlantic Cape Community College and the Academy of Culinary Arts (ACA) program to provide our students with an invaluable real-world educational experience in Cape May County,” said W. Shane Ritchie, campus operations manager at Atlantic Cape’s Cape May County campus.

The Let’s Chow Food Truck (www.letschow.org) has been utilized since March 2022 as a tool to teach Atlantic Cape’s culinary arts students about mobile food operations. Accompanied by ACA Chef Instructor Peter Gingerelli, the Cape May County campus module runs through March 27 and will visit several locations throughout the county, while providing the students with real-world experience in mobile food service management.

The eight ACA students are divided into two teams and focus on creating regional barbecue styles of Southern cuisine for their student-generated menus. As part of the Mobile Food Operations Module, the ACA students are developing individual food menus, a business plan and service strategy.

The food truck will also be stopping at Cape Regional Physicians Associates in Cape May Court House on March 7, Lazarus House in Wildwood on March 8, Cape May County Administrative Offices in Cape May Court House (Health/Education/Prosecutors/Sheriff) on March 21, Cape May County Commons in Rio Grande (CMC Veterans Administration/VA Clinic/Social Services/Dept. of Aging/Family Services) on March 23 and, with any remaining food supplies in stock, Atlantic Cape’s Cape May County campus on March 27.

“It has been a great community outreach program and the groups have been very grateful,” said Atlantic Cape’s Cape May County campus Director Krista Fitzsimons. “It is a good day at work when you get a small group of people to do great things! Thank you to all involved.”

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape is a comprehensive two-year community college serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. The college offers over 40 career, transfer and workforce development programs to more than 8,000 students annually at three campuses in New Jersey: Atlantic City, Cape May Court House and Mays Landing.