Clients from CATS visited Sérénité Restaurant & Culinary Institute for a private cooking demonstration. Those in recovery can attend the Sérénité Culinary Institute for a 6-month program that gives them a taste of what becoming a culinary expert is all about. It’s an amazing opportunity for those in recovery to learn new skills, to enter a new career, or to revive a passion from their past.
Chef Will from Sérénité has been in the culinary industry for over 22 years. He kicked off the cooking demonstration by sharing his story. Will, himself, went through Sérénité's culinary program.
Chef Will was an active alcoholic for 29 years. He discussed how it took a couple times of falling down and getting back up for him to harness his sobriety. But indeed, he did get back up. Chef Will has been a wonderful example, mentor, and role model for those seeking sobriety. Because of Chef Will's hard work with his own recovery, he has had wonderful opportunities. Chef Todd Whitman, Sérénité’s Executive Chef, has been a major mentor to him and many others.
During the cooking demonstration, Chef Will and Serenite’ Sous Chef, Kyrie Marshall walked the clients through how to make Sérénité’s award-winning macaroni and cheese. Chef Will set up individual burner stations for each client to cook their own dish. The clients had fun and did an excellent job cooking. After the clients finished cooking, they were able to all sit down together and eat. Everything looked, smelled, and tasted amazing.
In wrapping up the client’s visit, Chef Todd shared his story. He instilled the knowledge and experience he has gained throughout his journey in recovery and beyond. His story has a clear contrast from before he got sober to after he got sober. Chef Todd gives hope to people that the work it takes to remain sober is more than worth it. Your second chance at life can and will be what you want it to be. Your growth in life will be endless. It will not be without hard work and dedication, but you can have true sobriety if you want it.
Chef Todd has 9+ years of total abstinence. He explains how he must work as hard today as he did when he first got sober to maintain his sobriety. He touched on the harsh reality that he is only one decision away from losing it all. But he knows this, and he keeps it in the forefront of his mind, and he continues to work hard to maintain his sobriety, one day at a time.
A special thanks from CATS to Sérénité for hosting a cooking demonstration for us.
