200 pounds of potatoes and $23,000: San Diego high schoolers throw Thanksgiving feast to prepare for culinary careers
By Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union Tribune
First the teens peeled and diced 200 pounds of potatoes. Then it was time to sanitize, pull out some new cutting boards and chop many heads of lettuce for a Caesar salad.
For these 20 culinary students at Garfield High School, the knife skills are probably the toughest thing to learn, said Justin Halbert, their chef instructor. “They’re not used to chopping 50 pounds of celery or 50 pounds of onions,” he said.
On Thursday, the students served the fruits of their labor — including roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese — to nearly 400 people at a fundraiser for their school. It was expected to net $23,000, though the final tally won’t be known for weeks.
Garfield High serves students who are behind on credits or are at risk of dropping out, and its culinary program aims to equip them with the skills for a career after graduation.
Read the full article from the Union Tribune: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/11/20/200-pounds-of-potatoes-and-23000-san-diego-high-schoolers-throw-thanksgiving-feast-to-prepare-for-culinary-careers/
