{"id":22632,"date":"2025-10-28T12:59:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T16:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom2\/2025\/10\/28\/necc-culinary-arts-program-welcomes-new-coordinator\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T13:34:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T17:34:54","slug":"necc-culinary-arts-program-welcomes-new-coordinator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/10\/28\/necc-culinary-arts-program-welcomes-new-coordinator\/","title":{"rendered":"NECC Culinary Arts Program Welcomes New Coordinator"},"content":{"rendered":"

After more than 15 years working in restaurants ranging from cozy mom-and-pop diners to high-end catering operations, chef Bryan Philbrook has found a new home \u2014 in the classroom. As the new Culinary Arts degree program coordinator at Northern Essex, Philbrook is bringing his industry expertise and lifelong love of cooking to the next generation of chefs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has always been my dream to work in higher-level education,\u201d Philbrook said. \u201cI want to be able to train the chefs of the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Philbrook\u2019s culinary journey began in his grandmother\u2019s kitchen, where he learned to prepare traditional family dishes. \u201cI grew up hulling strawberries and freezing them for wintertime desserts,\u201d he recalled with a smile.<\/p>\n

After completing Nashua High School\u2019s vocational culinary program, Philbrook earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in business before enrolling in the Atlantic Culinary Academy\u2019s prestigious Le Cordon Bleu program. From there, he worked his way up through the industry \u2014 starting as a line cook and eventually moving into leadership and management roles.<\/p>\n

\"Chef<\/a><\/p>\n

Those years on the line gave him a deep appreciation for the craft \u2014 and for the people who make the industry thrive. \u201cThis is an industry that\u2019s built on stories from all walks of life,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are one of the biggest melting pots. As much as you\u2019re teaching, you\u2019re also learning from the students, from their experiences, travels, cultures, and backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, as an educator, Philbrook says he\u2019s focused less on recipes and more on developing students\u2019 foundational skills and instincts. \u201cOne of the things I tell my students is they don\u2019t learn recipes from me \u2014 they learn techniques,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s something so special about transforming ingredients; taking something in its raw form and giving it a new look and taste \u2014 there\u2019s nothing like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Philbrook believes the classroom environment offers something unique for both teachers and students. \u201cI love being in the classroom learning environment because it creates a sense of camaraderie,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

That collaborative spirit was on display at the recent Taste of the Merrimack Valley event in September, where NECC culinary students showcased their dishes to the community. The event gave students a chance to represent their school in a professional setting \u2014 and to make valuable industry connections.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a big networking experience for our students,\u201d Philbrook said. \u201cThey got to see what it means to stand behind their work, talk about their food, and share it with others.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event also helped spark a new initiative within NECC\u2019s culinary arts program: a guest speaker series that brings local chefs and food industry professionals to campus to share their expertise.<\/p>\n

For Philbrook, it\u2019s all part of building a program that blends technical training, creativity, and real-world experience. \u201cCulinary arts is more than cooking \u2014 it\u2019s about passion and community,\u201d he said. \u201cI want our students to feel that every time they step into the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After more than 15 years working in restaurants ranging from cozy mom-and-pop diners to high-end catering operations, chef Bryan Philbrook has found a new home \u2014 in the classroom. 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