Wolfgang Puck Catering Chef Featured In "Project Taste Test" Successful Careers Video Series

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), in partnership with PepsiCo Foodservice, released its fifth Project Taste Test – Servin' Up Successful Careers video. The video features Jett Mora, sous chef with Wolfgang Puck Catering, and is ideal for high school programs that teach culinary arts and restaurant management skills, such as NRAEF's ProStart® program.

"PepsiCo Foodservice is excited to present another insightful Project Taste Test video that is designed to help expose high school students to the breadth of opportunities in the restaurant and foodservice industry," said Doug Allison, senior director of industry relations at PepsiCo Foodservice. "Chef Mora is an excellent example of how far you can go with a passion for food and a willingness to learn and innovate."

Project Taste Test is a high-quality video series that features restaurant and foodservice industry leaders. The videos, with accompanying classroom discussion and activity guides, help high school students learn more about different restaurant and foodservice careers. 

ProStart is a two-year career and technical education program available in all 50 states, Guam and Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Europe and the Pacific. The program has reached nearly 140,000 high school students this year, and focuses on teaching culinary arts and restaurant management fundamentals.

In the video, Mora spoke candidly about his career path in an interview with another culinary champion of the same first name – celebrity executive chef and television personality Jet Tila. Tila is a chef, consultant, teacher and entrepreneur. He has battled on "Iron Chef America," appeared as a guest judge on "Chopped," and hosts his own radio show on KLAA in Los Angeles.

Mora got his start in the industry as a cook and is currently chef de cuisine at Red|Seven restaurant, and a sous chef within the Los Angeles operation of Wolfgang Puck Catering. Mora has also catered high profile events such as the Oscars® Governors Ball, and explains that Wolfgang Puck Catering events can range from five to 5,000 people.

The food might be the star of a Wolfgang Puck Catering event, but there is much more that goes into executing an event. Mora highlighted the integral role that the sales, engineering, human resources, finance and accounting departments play in a successful catering company. For students interested in pursuing a career in the foodservice or restaurant industry, Chef Mora suggested that students do their homework, read cookbooks, and find a mentor to help them along the way.

"Project Taste Test gives high school students a broader picture of the different types of careers available in the restaurant and foodservice industry," said Rob Gifford, executive vice president, NRAEF. "The videos and instructional materials highlight these careers and the skills necessary to attain them."

To watch Project Taste Test videos and access video supplements, go to ChooseRestaurants.org/ProjectTasteTest.

For more information on the ProStart program, visit ChooseRestaurants.org/ProStart or find us on Twitter or Facebook.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation:
As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF exists to enhance the restaurant industry's service to the public through education, community engagement and promotion of career opportunities. The NRAEF works to attract, develop and retain a career-oriented professional workforce for the restaurant industry. In 2016, the restaurant and foodservice industry is projected to comprise one million outlets and a workforce of 14.4 million employees, making it the nation's second largest private sector employer. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

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SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

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http://www.nraef.org