In line with our mission to raise industry standards, ROC-NY established the
Colors Hospitality Opportunities for Workers (C.H.O.W.) Institute to provide our members with the opportunity to obtain living-wage jobs through our free job training classes in both Front and Back of the House Restaurant skills. Since its formal inception in 2007, the C.H.O.W. Institute has trained over 1,000 restaurant workers.

The following is a list of classes offered at the C.H.O.W. Institute:

1. Culinary Arts/Back of the House:

  • Pastry Arts
  • Basic Cooking
  • Edible Arrangements
  • Specialty Coffee/Barista
  • NYC Food Protection Course and Certification
  • Soft-Skills training (mandatory)

2. Front of the House:

  • Customer Service Training
  • Server Training
  • Bartending Basics Training
  • Wine Basics Training
  • Specialty Coffee/Barista
  • Soft-Skills training


NEW FOR 2013!

The CHOW Institute is now offering advanced courses in Culinary Arts and Front of the House/Art of Service to help more restaurant workers achieve career mobility and introduce them to management concepts.

1. Culinary Arts 201:

  • Advanced Pastry
  • Advanced Cooking Techniques
  • Nutrition Awareness
  • Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking
  • Kitchen Management Basics

2. Art of Service 201:

  • Mixology/Bartending
  • Advanced Serving Techniques
  • Food and Wine Pairing
  • Dining Room Management Basics



Frequently Asked Questions:

I'm interested in the training, What do I have to do?
Become a member of ROC-NY! The training is a privilege of membership; therefore, our classes are only open to our members.


How do I become a member?
1. Attend an orientation, which happens every Monday at 11:30AM and Wednesday at 3:00PM. You do not need to make an appointment.

2. Attend a Team Meeting (by invitation-only).

What is a Team Meeting?
A Team Meeting is a workshop designed to train members on their rights in the workplace. Team Meetings are every Thursdays from 10:00AM to 1:00PM and you must be invited to attend


What happens after I become a member?
You will become eligible to apply for the training program. Becoming a member does not automatically enroll you in classes at the C.H.O.W. Institute. You must meet with a case manager, who will assess your interest and eligibility to take the course. All class registrations are subject to availability, and all decisions are at the sole discretion of ROC-NY.

In addition, as a worker-led, membership-based organization, we strongly encourage our members to become deeply involved in our organization by joining our many committees and through participation in other activities. If you are interested in becoming more involved, please call us at 212-343-1771.

How much does the training cost?
Our training is free.


I already have the experience and I'm just interested in finding a job? Can ROC-NY help?
ROC-NY and C.H.O.W. provides job placement assistance for our members who are experienced restaurant workers. If you're interested in our job development services, come to an orientation and please bring a copy of your resume.


How do I find out more?

If you are interested in assistance with job training and placement, in need of help in preparing a professional resume, or have additional questions, please contact us at 212-343-1771 or info@rocny.org.


ROC-NY is not an employment agency.

You must become a member!