A culinary student from Elizabethtown has gotten some hands-on experience that few students get: nine weeks working at the governor's residence in Harrisburg.
Cody Morinchin, 21, is the first person to get this opportunity, Executive Chef Barry Crumlich said. Two other students at the Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts has been selected before Morinchin, but the scheduling didn't work out, Crumlich said.
"We've had a working relationship with the Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts going on seven years now,'' Crumlich said. In the past, students had only been brought to the governor's residence to provide extra help for big events. Morinchin was among the students brought in for those one-time events, but he wanted to do more work there.
Crumlich said he was impressed with Morinchin's application.
"Cody actually reached out. He took the initiative,'' Crumlich said.
When asked if more students would get such an opportunity, Crumlich said, "Most likely. It's been a great experience with Cody.''
Crumlich serves on the culinary school's board of directors, but that's not the only school he and Morinchin have in common. Both are graduates of Elizabethtown Area High School _ Morinchin from the class of 2010 and Crumlich from the class of 1988.
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Morinchin said working in the governor's residence is a great opportunity for him because he plans to work as a private chef for a family rather than in a restaurant.
"I do enjoy the hustle and bustle of a restaurant, but I want to be a private chef because I get to make different things every day,'' Morinchin said. In a restaurant, a chef prepares the same meal over and over for different customers, but private chefs plan meals for their employers that vary quite a lot, including big events and small family meals.
Morinchin explained that at the governor's residence, a lot of the produce used in the kitchen is grown on the premises. Because of that, a lot of meal planning is based on what vegetables are ready to harvest.
"If it's not in season, we definitely try not to use it,'' Morinchin said. He added that he loves the garden outside the kitchen: "I'd say the herb garden's probably my favorite part of the mansion.''
Crumlich explained that he and the other workers at the governor's residence are not political appointees; he said he was hired under Gov. Mark Schweiker, continued through Gov. Ed Rendell's administration and now works for Gov. Tom Corbett. Schweiker and Corbett are Republicans and Rendell is a Democrat, but Crumlich said the house staff serves whoever is governor, regardless of politics.
"It's always not been an issue for our house staff to remain'' when a new governor takes office, Crumlich said.
But there is an adjustment to be made, such as what foods a new governor likes.
"They're just like everybody else,'' Crumlich said. "They have their likes and dislikes. You learn to adjust to their wants and needs.''
Although Morinchin has only worked for a brief period under one governor, the experience made a big impression on him.
"I love it,'' Morinchin said. "I wish I could stay forever.''
