As a former high school dropout, Senior Director of Culinary Arts and Enterprise Anthony Taglieri has a vested interest in the students he teaches at the Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh, PA. He knows firsthand that life is full of second chances and if you are genuinely interested in something, you can go the distance.
With Taglieri’s passion for his work, it is no surprise that he wants the best for his budding chefs, and this means stocking and outfitting his training center kitchen and storage areas with the industry’s most reputable and durable products. “I’ve been on the front lines as a career chef, as well as ‘back of house’ since I was 13 years old, so I know what works and doesn’t work in a kitchen,” he said.
From Rust to Reliability: Bidwell Upgrades to Cambro
When Taglieri joined Bidwell in 2020, the culinary program was in its 33rd year and had only scratched the surface on renovations. “In my first year here, the freezer went down and I noticed they still had the original steel shelves from 1988. As you can imagine, they were rusted throughout,” he added.
“It was at that point that we collectively agreed we needed to get an all-weather premium shelving – something that will stand the test of time. That’s when I thought about Cambro. Their containers are the standard in this industry, so I figured their shelving would have the same quality and durability.”
Turns out, he was right. Taglieri took this idea and ran with it, increasing the training center’s shelving capacity from 515 linear feet to 975 linear feet. He chose Cambro’s Camshelving Premium Series; Elevation Wall Shelving; and the Premium Series High Density Floor Track Storage System.
“We’re not like your average restaurant that has a set amount of ingredients they’re using and storing,” he said. “We have greater storage and shelving needs, so we had to make the most of the space we have. That’s where the movable shelves on the tracks come in handy.”
Easy to Clean, Easy to Customize
Camshelving Premium Series is made in the USA from smooth polypropylene plastic wrapped around solid steel cores. Shelf plates easily wipe clean or fit through a commercial dishwasher and withstand temperatures up to 190 degrees.
“Not only are the shelves easy to clean, but we can easily change the distance between the shelves. We may have 13-inch cases to store one week, but then we are storing 20-inch cases the next,” Taglieri said.
Elevation Wall Shelving Lifts Up Bidwell’s Operation
Ideal for above sinks, tables and equipment, Camshelving Elevation Series Wall Shelving is made with components that are designed to withstand the rigors of harsh environments. Wall tracks, uprights, shelves and pegboards are constructed to support a variety of trays, containers, utensils and more to provide the same trusted durability Cambro is known for.
“The wall shelving was another game changer. It keeps everything accessible and organized for our students,” Taglieri said.
A Little Ingenuity Goes a Long Way
In addition to the culinary education program, Taglieri also oversees the school’s cafeteria and catering program. He came up with the idea of building a wood structure around one of Cambro’s Camshelving Premium mobile units to display snacks for retail in the cafeteria. “We installed LED lights and built a vinyl shade, so when the cafeteria is closed, we pull down the shade and turn off the lights. It was a fun project for us to do,” he added. “For the students’ final project of the year-long program, they oversee their own ‘restaurant’ for a week, which we set up in the cafeteria. They have to create their own website, menu, and labor plan. The experience prepares them well for entry into the industry.”
The Bidwell Training Center is a fully accredited school and offered at no cost to residents of Pennsylvania. It receives all its funding through state grants and private philanthropic efforts. In addition to Culinary Arts, the school offers Chemical Laboratory Technician, Horticulture Technology, Institutional Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, and Medical Coder/Biller programs.
Author: Cynthia Connally is the Digital Communications Manager at Cambro.
