The Vocational School at the Culinary Center of Monterey is chef owned and operated. The Vocational School at the Culinary Center of Monterey uses a reality-based curriculum where students learn the trade through practical applications using the daily operations and extra curricular activities of the Culinary Center as a training ground that prepares students for success in the industry making them sought after employees.
The Culinary Center of Monterey is also a ServSafe® food protection instruction center and is approved in the state of California for certification under CA Health & Safety Code Sec. 113700-113733. This is not just any class however, clever skits and props are used to enhance and re-enforce the learning experience.
Fantasy Land for Foodies
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Retail Food Facilities Bill #AB 1978
The Culinary Center staff has created a program that will result in the Culinary Center becoming a resource to the industry for educated, professional and motivated employees who are disciplined, with good organizational skills and ready to work.
It is our goal to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the industry and to find solutions for these situations. We are dedicated to becoming a quality education leader in Culinary Training, be well positioned in the industry as a competent educational source, and to be respected and dedicated to the culinary industry as a whole for versatile training in the hospitality industry.
Benefits of Training at the Culinary Center of Monterey
Nutritional Expert Classes for home and institutional cooking
Cooking Classes For Everyone
Expand your gourmet skills in a state of the art class overlooking the bay
Get tips, tools, recipes, in class instruction hosted by Chef Mary or other great chefs. Skilled instructors provide the best environment to enhance your gourmet skills.
Intimate dinners to lavish galas or just meals in minutes, a CCM Class creates excitment.
Local & International Wines, including local Microbrew’s served at the ocean view bar.
Special low carb high protien diet recipes and classes available upon request
This Week’s “Did You Know?”
Chickens have been raised domestically for at least 4 thousand years.
The Culinary Center of Monterey offers an exciting opportunity to experience “hands-on” cooking classes
Classrooms provides state of the art ovens, gas cook tops, wok stations, griddles & open flame grills
Professional furi knives, accessories, and gift sets available.
Available for you and gifts are wearables, uniforms coats, hats, and glassware at our online store.
Cooking classes for everyone including the general public, culinary students, and chefs. Culinary Center recommendations for cutlery, cooking pans, and utensils from the CCM retail store.
Expand your gourmet skills in a state of the art class overlooking the bay. Get tips, tools, recipes, in class instruction hosted by Chef Mary or other great chefs. Skilled instructors provide the best environment to enhance your gourmet skills. Intimate dinners to lavish galas or just meals in minutes, a CCM Class creates excitement!
A corporate entertainment venue on the Cannery Row.
The Culinary Center of Monterey offers an exciting opportunity to experience “hands-on” cooking classes
Classes are taught by our resident chefs, as well as guest instructors and celebrity chefs.
Local & International Wines, including local Microbrew’s served at the ocean view bar.
Chef Mary’s Restaurant with inside or outside terrace seating over looking Cannery Row and Monterey Bay
Classrooms provides state of the art ovens, gas cook tops, wok stations, griddles & open flame grills
Located On Historic Cannery Row
Located on historic Cannery Row overlooking the beautiful Monterey Bay, CCM has become a very popular destination for Corporate Events and Team building.
The warm atmosphere of the rustic décor, the fireplace, the beautiful granite bar, and the friendly and well trained staff, this is the place for a very enjoyable and memorable event for your group.
The Vocational School at the Culinary Center of Monterey is chef owned and operated. The Vocational School at the Culinary Center of Monterey uses a reality-based curriculum where students learn the trade through practical applications using the daily operations and extra curricular activities of the Culinary Center as a training ground that prepares students for success in the industry making them sought after employees.
Provides the perfect setting for a Company Team Building class! Overlooking Monterey Bay and the beautiful Pacific Ocean, we provide the perfect venue for your fast-paced, deadline-driven, high-tech offices of today.Our ultra dream kitchens offer YOUR TEAM the ultimate food and wine experience while enhancing their skills in – Communication, Cooperation, and Cohesiveness.
The Culinary Center of Monterey offers an exciting opportunity to experience “hands-on” cooking classes taught by our resident chefs, as well as guest instructors and celebrity chefs.
Each 550 square-foot dream kitchen provides a wok station, open-flame grills, and plenty of fire power!
Additional new, fun, and innovative classes are always being announced.
Learn how to use special ingredients in one of the Culinary Center of Monterey’s cooking classes where culinary chefs demonstrate the use of alternative ingredients for health and nutritional purposes, for you or your group.
Background History
The Culinary Center of Monterey was developed by Mary Pagan, a Certified Executive Chef, to share her love of the Culinary arts with others.
The dream for a culinary center started in 1998 when Mary consulted her friend and mentor, Herve Le Biavant, Executive Sous Chef and Director of Competency at the California Culinary Academy.
The concept began in November of 1999 as one classroom and a small retail business. Since then, it has expanded to include two “hands-on” dream kitchen classrooms, a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, an outdoor cooking center, international gourmet market, premium wine and appetizer bar, and a unique culinary retail shop.
Overlooking Monterey Bay, the 10,000 square- foot facility was completely renovated retaining the old cannery wooden beams and the old-world atmosphere of legendary Cannery Row.
A “dream come true” for Owner Mary Pagan, the Culinary Center of Monterey is truly a unique facility providing the ultimate food and wine experience!
17 Mile Drive
Perhaps one of the best-known things to do along the Monterey Peninsula is the 17-Mile Drive. A winding road that leads through an exclusive neighborhood and past scenic coastal views to the famed Pebble Beach, the 17-Mile Drive forms many visitors’ favorite memories.
17 Mile Drive winds through a forested area and along the oceanfront, passing three golf courses, two luxury hotels and the famed Lone Cypress tree. The guide map you get at the gate will give a brief description of each point of interest. You’ll pay a fee (per car) to drive on it. The drive from the Highway 1 Gate to the Carmel Gate is approximately 17 miles.
Once you get inside, you’ll find signs and red-painted dashed lines on the pavement to help you follow the 17-Mile Drive route.
If you want to picnic along the 17-Mile Drive, stop at the Safeway store at the intersection of Highway 1 and Rio Road to pick up supplies or try the 5th Avenue Deli (between San Carlos & Dolores) in downtown Carmel. You can also buy picnic goodies along the drive at the Pebble Beach Market next to The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Best picnic spots are between Point Joe and Seal Rock and you’ll find picnic tables at many stops. Local seagulls roost on the tables when no one is around, so you may want to bring something to spread over the table before you eat.
The 17-Mile Drive is nice, but the Pebble Beach Company doesn’t have a monopoly on Monterey Peninsula scenery. If you want to see the Lone Cypress or Pebble Beach, pay up and enjoy yourself, but if you’re just looking for great scenery, follow Ocean View Boulevard and Sunset Drive along the water’s edge from the Monterey Bay Aquarium past Asilomar State Beach to Highway 68 (which will take you to Highway One).
For a less expensive golf course with views that rival Pebble Beach, try the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course where non-residents can play a round for less than $50.