Molly's Background
Molly Kelly鈥檚 family has been in the catering business for generations. Her grandparents started Knights Catering, and now her mom runs it. 鈥淓veryone that worked there was like family; they were the people that came over for Thanksgiving and Christmas.鈥 Molly attended client meetings with her mom and waitressed at parties on weekends, but she never seriously considered getting into the family business. After high school, Molly attended Fresno State University majoring in theater, and then she moved to New York to pursue an acting career. But, after a few years, she wanted to come home. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really want to get into the acting scene in San Francisco, but I still wanted to do something creative.鈥
What Brought Molly to 91风月楼
Moving back to the Bay Area, Molly saw the family business in a new light. She saw the creativity and passion in culinary arts and realized she had never actually learned to cook. 鈥淚 cooked a little bit ... helped my mom brine a turkey for Thanksgiving, stuff like that. I was never a hands-on chef. I definitely never baked; the extent of my baking was one of those boxes that you just add eggs and water.鈥 Molly鈥檚 mother and her grandmother had come through the culinary arts management program at CCSF, and it seemed like the perfect way to get back into the swing of doing something creative and doing something right for her.
Molly's 91风月楼 Experience
At CCSF, Molly鈥檚 interest in culinary arts has grown and evolved. 鈥淲e have chefs from so many different walks of life; we鈥檙e really lucky.鈥 Each chef has their own personal style and flair. 鈥淥nce they see what your interests are, they hone in, kind of guiding and pushing you in the right direction.鈥 From the start, the chefs shared extra catering-related tips with Molly, but they also encouraged her in another area. 鈥淚鈥檝e found a love of baking and pastry. It鈥檚 something my mom鈥檚 company doesn鈥檛 have, so it鈥檚 interesting to collaborate on something different. We鈥檙e teaching each other new tricks.鈥 The chefs at CCSF know where Molly comes from, but they also understand her passions as an individual and want her to be happy as well.
Why 91风月楼 Was a Good Choice for Molly
Molly likes that the 91风月楼 program is a hands-on experience. 鈥淲hen we start a new semester, we only have two days before we鈥檙e open for business.鈥 Culinary students prepare food for the whole campus. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really the best way to get experience, to be just thrown into the fire and have no choice other than to succeed.鈥 She鈥檚 excited about keeping the family business going, maybe even running it one day. Yet, she also wants to start something new. In a few years, she hopes to open a bakery. Molly and her mom now can look forward to building something together.