CAREER TECH TO CAREERS SIGNING EVENT
PETOSKEY – Antonio Sherwood was a student who put the “art” in “culinary arts.”
“Antonio was one of those students who just gets it. He has a broad knowledge of cooking and a strong natural ability to understand what is supposed to go together to make a delicious dish,” said Sherwood’s former culinary arts teacher at Petoskey High School, Bill Sommerfeldt. “He puts the art in the culinary arts.”
Today, Sherwood is continuing to fine-tune his artful cooking skills as the line cook at Palette Bistro in downtown Petoskey. A 2023 graduate of Petoskey High School, Sherwood was recently celebrated by Char-Em ISD with a “Career Tech to Careers” signing event. Career Tech to Careers events recognize high school students who pursue careers after graduation based on their enrollment in career tech classes in high school.
Antonio Sherwood (front left) receives a gift card from the Mansfield Family Foundation that will go towards purchasing work gear and supplies as part of the Career Tech to Careers signing events hosted by Char-Em ISD’s Career and Technical Education team. Looking on are (from left) Hannah Sanderson, Sarah MacLean, and Bill Sommerfeldt.
Sherwood first enrolled in the intro to culinary arts his freshman and sophomore years, taking the full year-long course in his junior and senior years, for three total years of culinary arts instruction. He brought with him a foundation of cooking interest and skills, having grown up watching his mom and his grandma cook at home. He describes cooking as something that had interested him from a young age. “When I took the high school classes,they helped me further develop some skills I already had, such as cooking techniques,” Sherwood said.
Now 19, he is working hard to prepare the delicious meals at Palette Bistro for which the restaurant is regionally known. He started in September 2023, and mainly works the afternoon and evening shifts for the restaurant’s dinner service, running 4 to 9 p.m.
“I’ll go over what’s needed for the day and start preparing foods right when I arrive,” Sherwood said. “If my chef is around we will talk about meals and specific plans, otherwise I’m it.”
He said he enjoys preparing the gamut of meal options, from pasta and risotto to more intricate dishes like seafood paella. At times he will also assist with dessert preparation. He particularly enjoys getting the chance to experiment with flavors and dishes. “It’s definitely the people that I work with that make this job most enjoyable,” Sherwood said. “I look forward to coming in every day. They make it fun.”
Palette Bistro is owned by Wineguys Restaurant Group, which operates several restaurants in Petoskey and regionally. Joe Keedy, Wineguys Group partner, noted that Sherwood’s positive attitude and energy helped him to fit right in at the restaurant.
“He’s done a great job for us,” said Keedy. “When he first came in and started, my first impressions – before seeing the technical aspects – were his positivity and curiosity about food and the hospitality industry. He also came with a strong foundation of techniques that he learned in his high school program. He definitely knew what he was doing and has the skill part down, too. We really enjoy having him working here with us.”
Char-Em ISD extends a special thanks to the Mansfield Family Foundation for continuing to support these signing events with gift cards for the new employees to purchase necessary tools and equipment for their job.
Career Tech to Careers celebrates the decision of high school graduates to enter the workforce after earning their diploma – specifically those students whose high school careers included Career and Technical Education classes.