Bites & Beats was a total JAM! 🎤🎸
Amazing eats from ProStart student food trucks, live music by @maxmcnown and @elizabethnichols , and beautiful weather made for the perfect celebration.
Huge thanks to @ecolab_inc for making this possible!
☀️ Perfect weather, incredible talent, and unforgettable food! 🍴
IRAEF and ProStart partnered with the Illinois Pork Producers Association’s Chef Jim Murray and Mikayla Schaefer, along with Executive Chef Klaus Lotter of Weber Grill Restaurants, for an exciting 4-grill demo at Al Raby High School (Chicago Public Schools).
Huge thanks to Illinois Pork Producers Association and Weber Grill Restaurants for setting up these amazing demos!
Shoutout to Chef Ortiz and his talented sophomore, junior, and senior culinary students for their incredible creations—you truly impressed us! 🔥👏
The future of the industry has officially arrived in the Windy City! 🏙️🍕
Our ProStart JumpStart grant winners have touched down in Chicago for the 2026 @nationalrestaurantshow ! Thanks to the @nraefoundation , this lucky group of students is getting an all-access, immersive look at the heartbeat of the hospitality world.
Your support of the ProStart program and NPSI is what makes dreams like this a reality. Thank you for helping us shape a strong, skilled, and inspired restaurant workforce! 👨🍳
Stay tuned all weekend long for behind-the-scenes looks at their Chicago adventure! 🎥✨
@fortunahighculinaryarts students knocked it out of the park for their last big catering gig of the season: the Teacher Appreciation party at HCOE! 🍎🎉
Way to go, students! What a way to wrap up a busy year on a delicious high note.
No floppy disks were harmed in the making of this video—but plenty of delicious breakfast food was! 💿🍳
This week the Maine ProStart Management team will be traveling to the @ecolab_inc Bites & Beats competition in Chicago, IL for their exclusive trip to the @nationalrestaurantshow ! These masterminds behind Y2Koffee created a retro-inspired food truck concept that perfectly blends early 2000s nostalgia with modern efficiency.
We’re so proud of how these students are using the ProStart curriculum to build their dream businesses—whether it's launching a cake company or managing a high-energy food truck!
Join us in celebrating Maine’s finest—keep up that Y2K energy! ✨🎧
The culinary students from @dmtcsc took center stage at the @scrla_ Hospitality Day at the Statehouse, serving up a masterclass in South Carolina flavor for over 1,000 guests—including our state lawmakers!
Cooking for a crowd of 1,000 is no small feat, but these students handled the pressure with professional poise. It’s amazing to see our ProStart talent showcasing the strength and skill of the next generation of hospitality leaders. 👨🍳
Talk about a win in paradise! 🌴✨
We’re throwing it back to @mihospitalityfoundation 's ProStart in Paradise, and the results are just as sweet as the menu. This tropical tasting event raised $11,000 to support scholarships, training, and career development for Michigan’s future hospitality leaders!
The incredible ProStart students from Allegan Tech Center and Hastings High School wowed guests with a high-end tropical spread, including:
🥓 Pork belly skewers & spicy pulled pork bites
🌮 Candied burnt end tacos
🍍 Pineapple upside-down cake
Huge shoutout to these talented students for turning their culinary skills into real-world impact. This is exactly what ProStart is all about—training the workforce of tomorrow while supporting them today! 🎓👨🍳
From hand-rolled dough to the perfect twist! 🥨🍝
The students at @bbiacc are mastering the art of fresh pasta and traditional soft pretzels requires patience, precision, and a whole lot of flour! It’s amazing to watch these ProStart students transform simple ingredients into culinary staples.
@rogersculinary is finishing off #TeacherAppreciationWeek with a sweet treat. 🍎 🚌 ✏️
ProStart students made over 150 sugar cookies for the teachers, principals, admin team, counselors, nurses, paraeducators, janitors, and everyone who keeps their school running!
It’s #TeacherAppreciationWeek, and we are feeling incredibly lucky to have the best in the business. ProStart educators aren’t just teachers; they are mentors, head chefs, business consultants, and the ultimate support system for their students.
Our educators go above and beyond to bridge the gap between the classroom and the industry. You are the heartbeat of this program, and your dedication is what makes the future of hospitality so bright.
To our ProStart educators: Thank you for your late nights, your tireless mentorship, and for always pushing your students to reach for that first-place trophy—and a lifelong career. 🏆✨
Turning up the heat—and the beats! 🎧🔥
Huge congratulations to Seoul Crunch Co. for their incredible win in the Ecolab Bites & Beats challenge! These talented students from Lincoln High School in California brought the vibrant energy of Korean street markets to life with their signature "Seoul Crunch Dog."
The Bites & Beats challenge celebrates the intersection of flavor, rhythm, and innovation. We are so proud of how these students used the ProStart curriculum to build a concept that is as visually stunning as it is delicious.
Check out their winning vibe and join us in congratulating these students on their hard work!
National Apprenticeship Week is all about opening doors — this is what it looks like in action.
After learning about the opportunity through her ProStart educator, Caroline took the step into a Registered Apprenticeship, gaining real-world experience and building her future in the industry.
We’re proud to support the next generation of leaders and the pathways that help them grow. #NAW2026
