MILFORD, Del. - The Food Bank of Delaware's Food Works Culinary School is changing lives. One student in the program had lost everything, but still found success.
"I always cooked, people liked my cooking, my neighbors liked my cooking, my family liked my cooking," said Stephen Marinari, a student at the Food Bank of Delaware's culinary school.
Marinari worked in IT for 30 years until he received jarring news in 2018.
"I had head and neck cancer stage four ... they said I'm the poster child for head and neck cancer so someone is looking out for me," said Marinari.
Even after recovering from cancer, he suffered more personal tragedies. Once the pandemic hit, he was unable to find work and had to sell his home, and missed the deadline for unemployment, "so I was living off my savings for my career and I had to do something so it was running out, and I found Chef Tish, the program is wonderful," said Marinari.
Marinari needed a change, and FBD's culinary school was his last chance.
"We teach them all the basics as far as culinary goes, knife skills, mother sauces ... we get them career ready for when they go out and find a job," said Letitia Badamshin, professional chef instructor.
It's a 14 week program with 12 weeks in the kitchen, and two weeks of work experience, and Chef Tish sings his praises.
"Somebody that has experience, management experience as far as his other jobs, he brought that to this class, and he was a very quick learner and he loved to cook at home," said Chef Tish.
With graduation a few weeks way, Marinari has already secured a job at Dalmata in Rehoboth Beach as a sous chef.
"Good news I just settled on a house ... it kind of completes my cycle that I set out to do, and its all thanks to this place really," said Marinari.
He is grateful to the culinary school, and the team at Dalmata. Even more good news, he says his family sauce is now accepted at the restaurant.
The next training program in Milford (and Newark) begins in August 16th. If you are interested in signing up click here.
