Culinary and Hospitality Enthusiast of the Future Academy (CHEF) has officially opened in metro Atlanta. It makes history as the first culinary academy founded by Black women in the city.
Its owners, chef Simone Byron and business owner Adeola Skunbi held a grand opening on Sept. 5. The duo transformed what was once a summer program into a comprehensive training facility, sharing their story with the Atlanta Voice.
“We have people who are training and doing classes on certain skills. We’re doing pasta-making classes. We’re doing pairing classes. There are classes for young people interested in baking a pastry from an after-school standpoint, where they can come in and do classes and earn certifications,” Byron said.
“Working with the ACF [American Culinary Foundation] to provide a space for those certification programs to happen is really important for us.”
CHEF Academy is part of Byron’s nonprofit organization, Navigate Foundation. Founded in 2017, the program helps individuals from underrepresented communities find career pathways in hospitality and chef training. With 200 students successfully completing the program, the academy hopes to expand these efforts to an even bigger cohort. The space allows for a variety of passionate individuals to take part in its growing community.