BC’s Renegade Room Features Quality Cuisine and Training
Thursday, August 29, 2024
By Deanna Rea
Marcia Overturf, one of the chefs inside the Renegade Room at Bakersfield College, describes the Renegade Room in just three words: “A hidden gem.” This single description, one that she has heard countless times directly from customers, perfectly encapsulates the college restaurant’s impeccable service, delicious cuisine, and charming atmosphere.
Located at the northeast end of the Bakersfield College Panorama campus, the Renegade Room is not just a restaurant but an exciting journey for the students enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program. While the chefs carefully create the recipes and menus, the students prepare, cook, and serve each dish. “They prepare the dishes,” Chef Overturf asserts, “As the chefs, we are the coaches; we are there to guide them.”
Contrary to popular belief, the Renegade Room is open to everyone---students, staff, faculty, and even the public! As Chef Overturf emphasizes, “It is a restaurant for the community [where] everyone is welcome; it’s a place to try different cuisines---something you may have never tried before at a very good price.”
As Chef Overturf describes a typical dining service at the Renegade Room, it became clear that the restaurant not only offers delicious food but, in her words, “a great education to our students. We have a very robust curriculum.” The program’s emphasis on hands-on experience allows students to develop essential cooking skills, such as food waste management, cost control, baking (basic and advanced), and preparing food, i.e., boiling, searing, and sautéing, in an advanced formal setting.
Having been a student in the Culinary Arts Program herself, Marcia Overturf has since cultivated a career in the Culinary Arts as an instructor with incredible insight and invaluable experience. “I was one of the students here [and] I graduated through the program. I never thought that one day I would be here teaching them,” she says. “This is [something] that I am so proud of. I tell them, ‘Look at me, it’s possible. You can become a teacher, an executive chef, or whatever you want as long as you work hard [and] have discipline.’”
When asked about her experience in the Culinary Arts Program, Marcia is quick to respond, “I loved every single minute of it, [but] not all those minutes were easy, especially for me. I was a stay-at-home mom with a family and a house to [care for] while doing school. It was very challenging. You have to keep pushing, and it will all work out.” She says, “I would recommend [the program] to anybody. Other culinary schools out there, they’re amazing, but they’re much more expensive. We are a community college, and we offer financial aid. The price here is [more affordable], and you get the exact same quality of education.”
The Culinary Arts Program continues to nurture and guide its students toward a successful graduation each semester. Several graduates are now paving the way in the culinary world, from the sous chef and head of the baking department at the Padre Hotel to the Food Service Director for the North High School District and the Executive Chef at Grow Academy. Our alums are making their mark, and their successful stories are a testament to the quality of our program, inspiring confidence in your future career in the culinary arts!
As the restaurant prepares to open on September 11th, 2024, the Renegade Room is set to surprise and delight. Chef Overturf reveals that over half of the menu will showcase some unique dishes, never before seen by the chefs. We are expecting great things,” says Overturf, “and I’m sure people will like it. I would say around 60-70% of our menu this semester is new. Well, at least new to us.
Whether you are prepared to indulge in great food or delve into a new culinary journey, come check out the Renegade Room this semester! For more information or to make a reservation, visit the Renegade Room’s Online Webpage.
