Salt Lake Culinary Center’s Black Box Competitions

At the famed Le Cordon Bleu, culinary arts students on the verge of graduation are required to successfully complete a Black Box exam: A timed exercise in ingredient identification, proper execution of classic cooking methods, and plating.

Salt Lake Culinary Center’s Chef Mollie Snider, a Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts graduate, is taking this concept and bringing it to her students. In the same vein as cooking show favorites, such as Chopped and Iron Chef, students will be put to the test. Students will not be privy to ingredients, menus, or cooking methods in advance.

In taking this class, students enter into a culinary mini-boot camp. Important culinary techniques, such as knife skills, cooking methods, sanitation, mise en place, and plating will be taught and discussed. Then, in the last hour of class, students will be presented with their individual black boxes. Each black box will contain a protein, vegetable, grain or starch as well as assigned cooking methods and techniques. Students will then be on the clock to complete their exam in time for judging.

The first two black box classes will be held Tuesday, September 23 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM and Saturday, November 15 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. More classes will follow. Cost is $99.00 per student. Students may register for this class on the website, www.saltlakeculinarycenter.com.

Here’s a list of the other upcoming classes at Salt Lake Culinary Center: