A new partnership helps culinary students get hands on.

The College of the Canyons Culinary Arts program has moved into a new home which is expected to bring the full flavor of its classes to the Westfield Town Center strip.

The Institute of Culinary Education (I-CuE), which is what the program has been renamed, will now call the former Rosie’s BBQ restaurant location home.

Students will have an opportunity to cook in an actual restaurant kitchen and get a feel for what a real-world cooking and preparation is like.

“Our faculty is just hopping up and down with excitement, they’re so happy,” said Sue Bozman, public information officer for College of the Canyons.  “The program is going to thrive now because we have space that’s really appropriate.” In previous semesters students had to share the college’s kitchen with ISSI, the company that cooks food for the cafeteria.

The facility is hosting its first event Saturday August 8, with the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project’s Sweet Charity Cake Auction.

I-CuE will be led by Cindy Schwanke, who has been a chef at a number of big-name L.A restaurants.

The College will be holding an invitation only ribbon cutting ceremony Friday August 7,  and the Sweet Charity Cake Auction on Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

Click here to read the whole story on the Sweet Charity Cake Auction.

Both events will take place at the new facility located on the corner of Town Center Drive and Circle Drive.