Culinary Job Training Program in Sonoma County

Sonoma Family Meal’s tuition-free Culinary Job Training Program provides hands-on culinary training and real pathways to employment for people facing barriers to traditional culinary education and stable work.

This multi-week program is designed for individuals who cannot afford culinary school or who face challenges such as food insecurity, justice system involvement, language barriers, or financial hardship. Students gain practical kitchen skills, workforce readiness, and paid experience in a real working kitchen.

What the Program Offers

We know that success in the food service industry isn’t just about being able to dice an onion or roast a chicken perfectly (though you’ll definitely learn those skills, too). It also requires a strong foundation, in both technical skills and life skills.

Success in the food service industry requires more than cooking skills. Our program combines technical training with life and workforce skills to prepare students for long-term success.

 

Bilingual, Inclusive Training

The program is fully bilingual in English and Spanish, reflecting the realities of Sonoma County kitchens. Students learn in the language they are most comfortable using. English tutoring and additional wraparound support are available, and translation support in Haitian Creole can be provided when needed.

Why This Program Matters

Sonoma County is home to a strong food culture, but access to that industry is not equal. High living costs and limited affordable training options leave many people shut out of stable careers.

This program creates entry points into the local food economy by providing:

  • Hands-on culinary training

  • Industry-recognized certifications

  • Workforce and job placement support

By addressing employment barriers directly, the program supports long-term economic stability for individuals and strengthens the local food system as a whole.

A Program That Serves the Whole Community

While students train, they help prepare meals for families, seniors, and disaster survivors across Sonoma County. This means the program addresses food insecurity in two ways at once by providing immediate nourishment and creating economic opportunity for the future.

Graduates leave with skills, confidence, and real connections to local employers offering fair-wage jobs.

Building the Local Workforce

Sonoma Family Meal works closely with restaurants, caterers, and food businesses to place graduates into jobs where they can grow and succeed. In a high-turnover industry, this program helps build a skilled, reliable local workforce.

Looking for staff? Local employers are encouraged to hire our trained graduates. Email Leslie@sonomafamilymeal.org to become an employer partner.

Program Details

The Culinary Job Training Program includes:

  • A full knife set and uniform for students to keep

  • ServSafe Food Handler certification

  • Eight weeks of bilingual instruction and immersive kitchen training

  • Hands-on experience in a working kitchen producing meals for the community

  • Financial literacy and work readiness skill-building workshops with partners: Redwood Credit Union, JobLink, and NorthBay Jobs for Justice, etc.

  • Resume building and interview preparation

  • A weekly stipend to help cover transportation, childcare, and basic needs

  • Access to wraparound support including legal assistance, transportation support, and English tutoring

  • Assistance with job placement with local fair-wage employers

  • Post-placement follow-up to support long-term success

Post-graduation, students are connected to fair-wage employment in the food service industry across Sonoma County. Examples include:

Farmhouse Inn

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SingleThread

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Kendall-Jackson

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Palooza Kenwood

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The Living Room

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Spinster Sisters

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Hog Island Oysters

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Sonoma Valley Unified School District

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Biotic Ferments

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Oliver's Market

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Whole Foods

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Bijou

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Petaluma City Schools

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Stellina Pronto

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Sarmentine

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Bay Laurel Culinary

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Dillon Beach Resort

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Chef's Warehouse

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Buffalo Wild Wings

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Petaluma People Services Center

Farmhouse Inn — SingleThread — Kendall-Jackson — Palooza Kenwood — The Living Room — Spinster Sisters — Hog Island Oysters — Sonoma Valley Unified School District — Biotic Ferments — Oliver's Market — Whole Foods — Bijou — Petaluma City Schools — Stellina Pronto — Sarmentine — Bay Laurel Culinary — Dillon Beach Resort — Chef's Warehouse — Buffalo Wild Wings — Petaluma People Services Center

 

Ready to Apply or Hire?

Whether you are looking to start a new career or hire skilled, motivated kitchen staff, Sonoma Family Meal’s Culinary Job Training Program creates real opportunity.

Spots are limited and fill quickly.

Apply online or call (707) 978-2340 to learn more.

Become a Student
Hire a Graduate
 
 

Meet Some of Our Program Graduates

Alex, 2024 Graduate

A proud graduate of our 3rd culinary job training cohort, Alex was immediately hired to continue working with the Sonoma Family Meal kitchen staff, and we were so grateful to have him on board. He spent the past year sharpening his knife skills, becoming a standout colleague, and cooking up some of everyone’s favorite family meals. In June 2025, he was hired by the prestigious Big Sky Resort in Montana for an exciting new chapter, and we couldn’t be prouder.

McKendy, 2024 Graduate

McKendy was one of the first Haitian students we served through our 2nd cohort. He came to the United States to find a better life for his family and found Sonoma Family Meal when he was taking English classes at the Petaluma McDowell Family Resource Center. Before the program, he was never able to get a job due to lack of training and resources. But after graduating from SFM’s CJT program, he quickly secured a job at Bay Laurel Culinary, a local catering company, where he was already promoted from Dishwasher to full-time Line Cook.

Doris, 2023 Graduate

Meet Doris, one of our incredible culinary students! From Peru to Sonoma County, Doris has brought her vibrant spirit and culinary magic. Creator of our delicious SFM Peruvian rice pudding, Doris’s passion for cooking blossomed during her adventures through Europe. She dreams of opening a Peruvian restaurant, sharing the tastes and traditions of her homeland with our community. She currently works at Dillon Beach Resort in Bodega Bay as a Prep Cook.

Haydee, 2025 Graduate

Meet Haydee, one of the talented culinary students from our 4th cohort. Originally from El Salvador, she’s passionate about bringing authentic Salvadoran cuisine to the community and hopes to one day open a restaurant with her sister. In the meantime, Haydee delighted the SFM community with her famous pupusas, and is now working as a Baker at Sarmentine.

Andrew, 2025 Graduate

A star in the kitchen, Andrew is passionate about bringing flavors to life. His love for cooking started in childhood, spending summers in the kitchen with his grandma, mastering her cherished Italian recipes. Inspired by her traditions, he’s now pursuing his dream of becoming a chef, and was recently hired as a Prep Cook at Hog Island Oyster Co.

Edith, 2023 Graduate

Hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico, Edith was a stay-at-home mom who loved to cook and make food for her church in Rohnert Park. She was referred to us by Cura, excelled in our program, and got a job at Three Leaves Foods right after graduation!

Ashley, 2025 Graduate

Ashley came to us as a referral from Burbank Housing. She had prior front-of-house experience, but never felt confident enough to step foot in the kitchen, despite her curiosity. When we noticed how quickly Ashley stood out in our program, we knew we wanted her on staff. Since hiring her to our team, Ashley has become our right-hand-woman for everything from programs to social enterprise.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It’s a free, multi-week program for people facing barriers to employment such as being unable to afford traditional culinary school.Students learn professional cooking skills through classroom instruction, collaborative hands-on training, and real-world work experience preparing meals for our food-security programs and social enterprise services.

  • You’ll gain hands-on experience in knife skills, foundational cooking techniques and language, food safety, kitchen management, large-scale meal production, and more. You’ll also pick up life skills like financial literacy and job readiness.

  • The process is simple: submit an online application, attend an interview, and commit to participating fully.