At Kirkwood, when we say you can start here and go anywhere, we mean it
At Kirkwood, when we say you can start here and go anywhere, we mean it. In fact, you could start here as student, and one day become second in command of one of eastern Iowa’s premiere gourmet restaurants.
Ryan Harbaugh, who originally hails from Muscatine, was recently promoted to Chef de Cuisine at The Class Act restaurant, housed within The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. As Chef de Cuisine, Ryan will assist the executive chef with the challenging tasks of running a gourmet restaurant, including menu creation, scheduling and oversight of day-to-day kitchen operations.
“This is such a wonderful opportunity for me,” Harbaugh said. “Hundreds of the brightest culinary minds come through this amazing program every year. I want to continue teaching the same ideals and values I learned as a Kirkwood student.”
After a decade in the culinary industry, Harbaugh decided to bolster his experience with a degree from Kirkwood. He entered the program in 2007 and graduated with degrees in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management in 2010. He then accepted a position as one of only four lead cooks for The Class Act Restaurant. Lead cooks serve a supervisory role in the absence of the chef de cuisine and the executive chef.
“Ryan is a great asset to our team. His experience, dedication, his understanding of the mission of The Hotel at Kirkwood and his respect for the craft, as well as his peers, make him a top-notch choice for this position,” said Melanie Ewalt, executive chef, Class Act Restaurant. “Plus, it’s pretty significant to have someone who was once my student grow into an important role such as this.
Not only does the Class Act serve as a real-time, real-world teaching environment for Kirkwood’s ground-breaking Hospitality Arts program, the seasonal menu features deliciously creative twists on several traditional meals.
“Kirkwood is absolutely phenomenal. I went to other schools, and everything here is on a totally different level,” Harbaugh said. “All the chefs are some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated I’ve ever met. Their level of expertise, in both teaching and practicing their craft, is second to none.”
This quality, together with breathtaking décor and quiet ambience, create a flawless experience that is truly a Class Act. Visit www.classactdining.com for more information.