By Mark Scheer
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
For Sean Male, there’s nothing quite like putting on a spread for friends, family — even complete strangers.
The 44-year-old Lockport resident is now looking forward to passing on his love of cooking to a whole new generation.
“I love the gratification of putting out a nice meal and seeing how happy people are after a long day of work,” said Male, the new chef in charge of the culinary arts program at Carolyn’s House on Sixth Street. “I think it’s something that the big guy upstairs blessed me with so I want to give that back to other people.”
A self-proclaimed graduate from cooking’s “school of hard knocks,” Male brings to the YWCA’s supported living center for homeless women more than 33 years of experience in preparing and serving meals. The father of three who grew up in Williamsville got his first real taste of the culinary arts at Samuel’s Grand Manor in Clarence. From there, he worked as head chef for Justine’s restaurant at the Buffalo Hilton. He later worked in food service for National Health Care Affiliates and most recently at the Greenfields Community Care Center in Lancaster.
In his new job at Carolyn’s House, Male will work side-by-side each day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with female students enrolled in the center’s culinary arts program. As their instructor, Male will be teaching his students the ins and outs of kitchen management, the importance of dedication to the job and the basic skills needed to prepare fine meals.
“We want them to be able to succeed out in the real world,” Male said.
Male helped students serve St. Patrick’s Day lunch at Carolyn’s House last month. This is his first time he’s been hired to not only cook, but to teach and he says he’s looking forward to it.
“I love to teach,” he said. “I love to be around people. I want to help the girls out that are here and cooking is my passion. I think I’ll fit right in.”
Started when Carolyn’s House opened in 2005, the center’s vocational culinary arts program trains women for entry level work in the food service industry. Carolyn’s House hosts a monthly lunch program to support students’ progress, allowing up to 50 guests to enjoy a meal prepared by women who are receiving culinary arts training. In addition, Carolyn’s House is now running what is known as the “Catering Crew,” a group of graduates from the culinary program who provide catered meals for various functions. In the coming weeks, the group is scheduled to cater events being sponsored by Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. and Stella Niagara.
“We are a full-service catering business, but we are what you would call a social enterprise,” said Carolyn’s House Director Theresa Martinez. “The money that we earn goes back into the program so that the program can be self-sustaining. The students learn basic food service skills. They learn everything they would learn working in a restaurant. It’s all about providing them with what, in some cases, is their first job experience.”
