In a groundbreaking initiative, the Grafton Correctional Institution in northeast Ohio hosted its first-ever public five-course meal event, prepared entirely by incarcerated individuals. Nearly 60 attendees dined at the event, where food was sourced directly from the prison gardens—EDWINS’ Garden and Hope City Garden. The event was organized by the EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute as part of their ongoing culinary course, which aims to provide inmates with essential cooking and hospitality skills.
EDWINS, a nationwide organization dedicated to prison education, offers culinary training programs in 652 prisons and jails across the country. The six-month course at Grafton equips participants with skills like safety and sanitation, knife techniques, and other certifications necessary for careers in fine dining. Chef Brandon Chrostowski, a James Beard Award finalist, who founded EDWINS, believes the program helps inmates build a brighter future by giving them valuable skills and career opportunities. “We’re reframing what’s possible in prison,” Chrostowski said, emphasizing the belief that everyone deserves a second chance.
Transformative Experience Through Culinary Arts
The five-course meal, set in the middle of the lush gardens, included dishes like beet salad with goat cheese, roasted salmon with béarnaise sauce, and roasted lamb with tomato provencal. Incarcerated men not only prepared these gourmet dishes but also grew the ingredients in the prison’s gardens. The meal was accompanied by creative mocktails, one of which was the “botinique,” made with thyme-infused honey syrup and lemon.
For many participants, this program is about more than just learning how to cook; it’s about rebuilding their confidence and learning how to work with others. One inmate, Greg Sigelmier, shared how the experience helped him come out of his shell and see a potential future in the culinary industry after his release. “This could be the rest of my life,” he said, reflecting on how the program is giving him a fresh perspective on life beyond incarceration.
Participants in the EDWINS program range in age from 20 to 70 and are serving various sentence lengths, but they all share the common goal of bettering themselves and preparing for reintegration into society. The program not only teaches culinary skills but also instills teamwork, discipline, and the importance of community. As GCI warden Jerry Spatny explained, “This program is about giving our inmates reentry-level skills so that when they return home, they can be successful.”
Many graduates from the program will have the opportunity to work in restaurants across the Cleveland area, making it a transformative experience that goes beyond the kitchen.
Source : https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/ohio/articles/2024-08-26/ohio-prison-holds-first-ever-five-course-meal-open-to-public-on-facility-grounds