The culinary program is back in business at Manatee High School.

After a couple of years’ hiatus, mostly due to the pandemic, students are cooking, baking and learning food safety techniques again.

student placing cookies on baking sheet

Judith Conover is a welcome addition to the Hurricanes’ staff – and a first-year educator.

After running her own baking business and mentoring colleagues at various restaurants (and Detweilers), the self-taught baker put on an apron in a culinary classroom.

Their first recipe: chocolate chip cookies.

students making cookie doughstudents and cookie ingredients


One student told us the class allows her to help more at home.

This culinary program may also launch a career pathway for young people and help them succeed in the workplace.

Chef Conover plans to reopen the Canes Café, a student-run place for faculty to enjoy a meal.

We visited the first-year teacher and her eager young chefs as they got their first taste of baking.

Here are sights and sounds from the Hurricanes’ kitchen:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1185236852059122