French Culinary Students Come Here To Learn

Story and Photo by Barbara Shepard, president of the Sister Cities Association Of Cary

Cary, NC – Where do culinary students from Le Touquet, France come to work and study their craft? If you answered “Cary and the Triangle”, you would be right.  Yes, culinary students from France, right here in Cary!

French-American Culinary Exchange

Ten students from the Lycée d’État Hôtelier du Touquet in Cary’s sister city of Le Touquet, France, are spending the month of April sharpening their culinary skills at leading restaurants such as Herons in The Umstead.

The visit is part of a long-standing Sister Cities of Cary exchange program between the Wake Tech Culinary Arts’ program and the Le Touquet culinary school.  Every year, students from the Wake Tech program travel to France in the fall, while a group of French students come to the Cary area in April.

Jeff Hadley, department head for the Wake Tech Culinary Arts department has led the trips to France for a number of years. “The French exchange program has so many benefits for our students from a professional and cultural perspective. Even though a different language is spoken there, the students learn our industry has a universal language all its own.”  Students from both countries also gain a greater awareness of how our two cultures view food and dining.

Last year’s meet and greet reception for the students and their chaperons was such a hit that Sister Cities has organized another gathering on April 18, open to the public.   The reception is sponsored by Sister Cities Association of Cary and co-sponsored and hosted by the American Turkish Association of North Carolina (ATA_NC)  Guests can sample a variety of French and American wines from SIP A Wine Store and hors d’ouevres provided by local Cary restaurants including Romas, Havana Grill, Maximillians Grill, and Bosporus.

Event Details

Meet the Culinary Exchange Students
April 18, 2013
7:00 – 8:30

Turkish House
303 E. Durham Road
Cary, NC  27513

The event is free for Sister Cities and ATA_NC members and $6.00 for everyone else.

Space is limited, so tickets (free or cost) are required. Tickets and directions to Turkish House can be obtained at http://2013culinaryreception.eventbrite.com/