Draper • Trish LaRoque is proud — and a bit surprised — at what she has accomplished as an inmate at the Timpanogos women's correctional facility.
The 32-year-old mother of three said she had "never cooked a day in my life" before being sent to prison for theft.
Now, after several months in a culinary-arts program, LaRoque understands food terms such as veloute and ganache; she has the skills to successfully make the basic white sauce and chocolate filling. She also can truss a bird, debone a chicken and make a cake from scratch.
"This is the best thing that has ever happened to me," said LaRoque. "I'm actually envisioning my life now."
Food is creating a new path for her and the 17 other women enrolled in the culinary-arts program. It's one of six vocational offerings that the Davis Applied Technology College (DATC) provides to inmates sentenced to the Utah State Prison. Automotive technology, welding, machining, building maintenance and business technology are the others. There's a separate culinary course for the male inmates.
Inmates must put in the same number of hours and pass the same skills as students on a regular campus, said DATC culinary instructor Monica Hobbs.
"They have to take it seriously and appreciate the chance to come," Hobbs said, noting that there is a waiting list for the program as the food industry provides realistic job opportunities for parolees.
The program also is popular because the food is far better than what's offered in the prison cafeteria, the inmates joke.
The state pays half the tuition of about $3,500, but inmates must take out student loans for the remainder. Some work jobs in the prison — for just a few cents per hour — to help pay back the loans.
Hobbs said before the inmates are allowed in the kitchen, they must complete two weeks of bookwork and pass written exams on everything from equipment to sanitation. Then they are in the kitchen Monday-Friday for six hours each day, until they have met the 1,140 required hours — or are released.
While the Timpanogos culinary kitchen looks like any other commercial operation, there are signs of its uniqueness: knives secured to tables, metal detectors to get into the building and "UDC Inmate" emblazoned on the back of maroon uniforms.
The women enter the culinary program with various skills, said Hobbs. Some barely know how to boil water; others have worked in restaurant kitchens or cooked with — or for — their families.
Most also lack self-esteem, she said. "As they progress through the program, they really gain confidence, especially when they get to share what they have made with others."
That was evident earlier this month when the group planned and prepared the ultimate holiday feast for a dozen or so prison employees.
It was not a typical prison buffet: herbed turkey, orange glazed ham, sweet potatoes with pecans, glazed carrots, green beans, roasted potatoes, acini de pepe or "frog-eye" salad with pineapple and marshmallows, and fresh-baked rolls. For dessert, Christmas cookies, truffles and peppermint cheesecake bars.
Everything was made from scratch, and as each dish was placed on the table, the inmate who prepared it beamed with joy.
Guests, such as prison caseworker Milian Henry, were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and the attention to detail that the inmates put into the meal. "It's the best-tasting food I've had in my nine years at the prison," he said.
Lt. Jennifer Stansfield came for lunch, but also to offer encouragement.
"They've all made mistakes and we don't need to keep reminding them of that," she said. "Now we need to focus on positives and the things they can do."
Capt. Jeff Wilson said the vocational programs offer job opportunities and life skills that the inmates will need when they are released. "The goal," he said, "is for them to get out and stay out."
That's why Tessa Mounts, who violated her daughter's custody agreement, is putting all her effort into finishing the culinary certificate. She'll likely start at the bottom in a restaurant or hotel when she gets out of prison. But one day she said she hopes to have her own soup and sandwich cafe.
"Something really bad happened. But now I want to make the most of being here," she said. "I want to overcome this and become a better person."
kathys@sltrib.com
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Angela Carter shows off her truffles as female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Felicia McClure fills pans with hot water in preparation for the first Holiday Luncheon being put on by the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Felicia McClure, left, drains green beans from ice water during the early stages of preparation. The female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program put on a Holiday Luncheon for the first time for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune After signing up for the preparation of certain dishes, Tina Deluna, Trisha Laroque, Ashley D'Ausilio, Jamie Greenwood and Milissa Provstgaard(cq) from left, make signs to identify each dish for their guests.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Chef Monica Hobbs, second from right, who has guided women in mastery of technique for cooking, baking, knife skills and the use of professional equipment, praises her female student inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program discuss the menu as they prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Officer Ericson Smith towers over the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program as they get to enjoy their hard work by serving a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A large meal comes together as Diana Carlson serves up herb roasted turkey as female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Ashley D'Ausilio, left, and Trisha Laroque admire their handy work as the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014. The two friends plan to open a sandwich and soup place when they get out of prison.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Former middle school lunch lady Jamie Greenwood, right, displays her chocolate, peppermint cheesecake with pride while enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Captain Jeff Wilson, head of education and vocational life skills at the Utah State Prison talks about the Culinary Arts Program to other officers before enjoying a Holiday Luncheon prepared by the inmates.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Security cameras keep a watchful eye as female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program gather for a group photo after preparing a Holiday Luncheon that was to be served for the programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Felicia McClure, left, and Sherrie Beckering fill pans with hot water in preparation for a Holiday Luncheon put on for the first time by the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Learning all the elements of putting on an elaborate meal, female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune The sharp knives are kept locked to the tables where female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program have been learning how to cook.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Chef Monica Hobbs directs her students in the kitchen as the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Learning all the elements of putting on an elaborate meal, female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff for the first time on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A large meal comes together as Female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Keeping a tidy kitchen is just one of the many elements learned as female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Shoni Kelsey, center, helps Jamie Greenwood clean up her streaked makeup after crying with pride when her chocolate peppermint cheesecake turned out great. At left Sherrie Beckering adds moral support as the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepared a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Ashley D'Ausilio, center, and Trisha Laroque beam with pride and excitement at the sight of their Holiday Luncheon coming together.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A moment of levity brings out a dance as Tina Deluna, center, spins and sings as food comes together for a Holiday Luncheon. For the women participating in the prison's culinary arts program, it means a break from the regular bad prison food and a chance to each fresh fruits and vegetables.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Dianne Johnson burst with laughter caused by Diana Carlson as the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Mary Crawford, DATC program director talks about the Culinary Arts Program at the Utah State Prison where the inmate class had just prepared a meal for the prison staff for the very first time.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Former middle school lunch lady Jamie Greenwood, left, becomes emotional with pride following the success of her chocolate, peppermint cheesecake as Amanda Grimstad tries to comfort her while the two are enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Diana Carlson stretches out the tablecloth in preparation for an elaborate meal as the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Shoni Kelsey covers sweet potato casserole as the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program prepare a Holiday Luncheon for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Amanda Grimstad beams with pride as she prepares her sweet frog eyed salad to be served for programming and security staff on Friday, Dec 5, 2014.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Small signs reveal each dish after being printed by the female inmates enrolled in the Utah State Prison's Culinary Arts Program.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Captain Jeff Wilson, head of education and vocational life skills at the Utah State Prison talks about the Culinary Arts Program to other officers before enjoying a Holiday Luncheon prepared by the inmates.
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