Rachel Ray Visits Philly

TV Show host Rachel Ray paid Philadelphia’s Frankford High School a visit yesterday where one culinary teacher’s antiquated kitchen got a dramatic makeover, compliments of Hollywood.

Fresh from spring break, Ray and a host of her celebrity friends unveiled the state-of-the-art room to instructor Wilma Stephenson and her students for the first time since Ray broke the news of the renovation on her food show last month.

The Careers Through Culinary Arts Program, or C-CAP, is a year-long program from the national nonprofit that introduces students to new cuisines, teaches them basic cooking skills and techniques, and lands them internships or careers as chefs, restaurant managers and hotel administrators. For the last 18 years, C-CAP has offered close to $4 million to hundreds of Philadelphia students to attend culinary schools and other institutions of higher learning.

However, due to new changes in federal and state guidelines, students may lose out on getting thousands of dollars in scholarships while the school district refocuses its 15 culinary-arts programs from low-paying “back-of-the-house” skills such as cooking, to “front-of-house,” skills, which mainly deal with customer service, said a district spokesman.

Ray wanted to recognize Stephenson after hearing about her competitive culinary program. District officials say they embrace the program, but dwindling participation had also influenced their decision.