What's Cookin' at RCC's Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center?

Rockland Community College’s Hospitality and Culinary Arts Center is excited to introduce the 2025 Food Enthusiast Program, a series of nutrition and cooking lessons available to food lovers throughout the community. The popular program was recognized as the “Best Cooking Class” in Hudson Valley Magazine’s 2022 Best of Hudson Valley competition, while Chef’s Pencil, an international food magazine, ranked RCC’s Culinary Arts program sixth in their top ten programs in New York.

The next installment of the Food Enthusiast Program features Babka & Rugelach with Chef Pam Sangen, a lead baker from Rising Above Bakery, at the RCC Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center, located at 70 Main Street in Nyack. On February 19th, from 6:30 to 9 PM, participants will learn to craft these beloved pastries from scratch, exploring the rich flavors and techniques behind these classic Jewish treats. This follows the sold-out success of the program’s first class, “Pizza Rustica with Chef Don Eagle.” Attendees will be treated to snacks upon arrival.

“We welcome food lovers of all skill levels from our community to join us in our state-of-the-art teaching kitchens to celebrate the joy of cooking and the shared experience of dining,” said Mark Davidoff, Director of the RCC Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center and Foodservice. “Each class offers a chance to explore new culinary experiences, learn from top professionals, and, most importantly, enjoy delicious food crafted with your own hands.”

Whether you're a seasoned chef or a culinary novice, our classes offer something for everyone. All food, equipment, and supplies are provided, and attendees will have the option to taste the food on-site or take home all of the food they make. The cost is $75 per person.

Mark your calendar for other Food Enthusiast Program events, including:

March 6 – Hassenpfeffer Braised Rabbit Stew with Chef Steve Brunner

March 19 – Classico Italiano with Chef Steve Brunner

April 3 – Chillin' & Grillin'

April 17 – Kreyol Catering with Chef Eve Chery

May 1 – April Showers Bring May Flowers with Chef Katie Lewis

May 14 – Tiramisu with Chef Matt Siciliano

To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/food-enthusiast-classes-1558789. For questions, contact the Nyack Hospitality and Culinary Art Center’s director, Mark Davidoff, at 845-875-7571 or mark.davidoff@sunyrockland.edu.

About Rockland Community College, State University of New York

RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through a variety of programs and educational opportunities including workforce training, certifications, and micro credentials. Many of the programs are developed with employers in the community in high demand industry areas to enable graduates to move into a new career upon graduation. More information can be found at https://sunyrockland.edu/