Student Chefs

Chef Link and Chef Zayac are the grand force behind Vista Academy’s Culinary Arts Program. Currently, all high school students have the opportunity to be a part of this amazing kitchen. Students are mastering kitchen safety, restaurant sanitation procedures and of course cooking. Chef Link say’s that the students have, in his words, “KILLED baking essentials”. They are whipping out scones, cinnamon rolls, and the most incredible tasting biscuits you can imagine. To wash down these delectable confections, the culinary dept. just opened the SWAGGER CAFÉ. Every morning Students arrive early and help the chefs sell Daz Bog Coffees, Mocha chinos, Chai tea, hot chocolate and pastries with many more items to be added in the future. Chef Z says that students really want to take over the responsibilities and duties of running the fabulous café. Chef Zayac comes to us from the Culinary Institute of America where she specialized in Italian cuisine, and restaurant management. She has worked at the Ritz Carlton, in Denver and Naples Fl. She has taught a variety of private cooking classes, and hopes that the students at Vista gain real world experiences and able to execute cooking techniques within the restaurant industry. In high school Chef Zayac took a culinary course similar to what is offered at Vista – where she got her start in cooking. Chef Link hails from Johnson Wales Culinary University and Texas Tech University. Chef Link has been cooking since high school, and has worked at Steak houses to bar and grills. He was worked in “In House Dining” services for corporations like prologis, Jeppensen, blu cross blue shield, Verizon and many more. He was the executive chef and manager for eurest dining services. Chef Link owns his own business called Intense Foods Sauce Company, specializing in BBQ and artisanal sauces. He’s also been a community member having lived in Green Valley Ranch for the past 6 years. Chef Link comes from a family of teachers and says, “teaching is in the blood.” He wants the students to take the skills he’s teaching and opportunities he is offering, and be come life long independent learner with initiative. Both chefs want to invite the Green Valley, Montebello, and Park field community to stop by and visit their program.