WCK’s professional culinary arts training program which prepared young, aspiring chefs for their first job in the commercial kitchens of Haiti’s local institutions, like restaurants, hotels, and caterers.

École des Chefs Culinary School

WCK’s roots began in Haiti in 2010 when the country was hit by a devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands of people. Following a trip to see how he could help, José founded World Central Kitchen with the belief that food can be a positive agent of change for communities in need. 

To advance this vision, in 2015, WCK partnered with the Haitian Department of Education to create a professional culinary arts training program. After two years of growth, the program evolved into École des Chefs—WCK’s own culinary school in Port-au-Prince. The school—featuring a world-class, professional kitchen and full dining room for training and hosting of events—quickly became the country’s premier culinary training institution.

The École des Chefs curriculum focused on hands-on training under the tutelage of one of the most respected chefs in Haiti, Mi-sol Chevallier. The school also played a central role in WCK’s emergency response to the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that shook Haiti in August 2021. Chef Mi-sol, alongside École des Chefs students and graduates, worked together to serve nourishing meals to impacted communities within the first 24 hours.

After years of WCK support, Chef Mi-sol took the school fully under her wings in 2022. 

Now called Atelier des Chefs—French for “chef’s workshop”, the school remains an industry leader preparing the next generation of chefs for jobs in Haiti’s top commercial kitchens.

Atelier des Chefs stands ready to act as an emergency relief kitchen if the need ever arises.

Training the next generation of chefs

WCK | Earthquake Response in Haiti

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École des Chefs was WCK’s professional culinary arts training program in Port-au-Prince, preparing aspiring chefs for their first job in the commercial kitchens of Haiti. Following its success, the school was launched as an independent organization under the leadership of Chef Mi-sol Chevallier.

École des Chefs

Celebrate 15 years of WCK at SXSW on March 11 & 12