Due to a new certificate program offered at the Telluride Conference Center by Western Colorado Community College (WCCC), a division of Colorado Mesa University, chefs in and around Telluride will have the opportunity to advance their culinary skills.

The Telluride community leaders, including people in the restaurant business, believe there needs to be basic training skills for prospective employees who would like to be in the restaurant industry.

The technical certificate will include five courses that provide training in food safety, kitchen and bakeshop. They can also get a certificate in techniques of cooking and food presentation. The students will earn college credit, that can be applied to an associate’s degree in culinary arts at WCCC or a bachelor’s of applied science at CMU.

The first three courses will be held April 9 to May 12 at Telluride Convention Center. The Introduction to Foods and Center of the Plate classes will be on Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Food Safety and Sanitation class is a 50 minute onsite class on Mondays with an additional online class each week.

Introduction to Baking and International Cuisine, will be held Oct. 12 through Nov. 16, Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., also at the Telluride Conference Center.

Telluride area residents interested in learning more information about the classes can go to the Telluride Convention Center between 3 and 6 p.m. on March 29. Offering the culinary arts certificate in Telluride is a part of an ongoing effort to bring more higher education opportunities to CMU, WCC, Telluride School District R-1 and the Telluride Community.