Generation Next: Bringing an Industry Edge to Culinary School

As a high school student, Daron Sklar would reach out to chefs on social media asking to stage for them, even when it was was an intimidating prospect. “It’s important to put yourself in the most uncomfortable and difficult room possible,” he says. This persistence landed him his first job in fine dining at Kappo Masa in New York City, well before he stepped foot on the Johnson & Wales University (JWU) campus in Providence, R.I. And it wouldn’t be his last brush with fine dining; Sklar went on to work in the kitchens of Joomak Banjum, Eleven Madison Park and The Modern—all Michelin-starred properties.

Though initially intimidated by the size, scale and intensity of these operations, the budding chef says he learned how to be more productive and that “sometimes getting the job done means you have to take a breath and slow down to think of a game plan first.” It’s a sentiment shared by many culinary students and one that Sklar says has been reinforced in every classroom and work situation he’s landed since age 17. “It was the small things that I learned and practiced so much in these spaces. Those skills will impact my entire career,” he explains. “For example, learning to save footsteps by anticipating what I’ll need at my station not just a minute from now but a half hour from now.”

He credits the chefs he has worked under with helping foster his creativity and work ethic. One told him that chefs are only as good as the last plate they send out, and Sklar applies this mindset to his work, continuously striving to be the best version of himself. Another chef, Gerardo Torres at Kappo Masa, would let him come in before his shift to bake whatever he wanted and turn those into daily specials. Torrres also showed him the importance of creating for the client, not always for yourself. Meanwhile, his first boss, Manny Colon of Manny’s Bistro, taught him that hard work can pay off (he awarded Sklar’s diligence by granting him free reign of the dessert specials on weekends).

Even though Sklar built an impressive resume and skill set on the job, he still held a childhood dream of going to culinary school. His experiences not only provided foundational skills, they also helped clarify his long-term professional goals and the training he would need to pursue them. Now a junior at JWU, Sklar is on track to earn a B.S. in Culinary Science & Product Development, as well as an associate’s degree in Baking & Pastry Arts—both of which reflect his past and the future he is building toward. Growing up, he binged baking shows and soon found that he enjoyed working with chocolate the most. “I love the science behind chocolate and what you can do with it when you understand how it works,” he says. This semester in particular offers a deep dive into chocolate; Sklar is currently studying abroad at École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie, France’s globally renowned baking and pastry school.

His advice to incoming JWU students? “Get involved on campus. Join a club!” Sklar is no stranger to JWU’s vibrant campus ecosystem outside of the classroom. He’s president of the Pastry Arts Club and vice president of the Culinary Science Club, as well as a member of the President’s Advisory Council and the College of Food Innovation & Technology Student Leadership Council. He also tutors at the Academic Success Center. Indeed, Sklar is making the most of his time at JWU and forming as many connections as he can. He knows the value of relationships in the small culinary world. “Get to know every chef possible, even if you will never have them as a teacher,” he advises. “Network as much as possible, especially at events JWU hosts.”

So what can we expect from this young chef after JWU? Chocolate, of course. He plans to continue working in restaurants for a few years before transitioning to the culinary science sector, where he can develop innovative solutions in the retail chocolate and dessert spaces. Ultimately, Sklar hopes his work will include traveling the world and educating people about the many culinary possibilities of great chocolate—all the while, challenging himself to grow and evolve. “I want experiences that make me fight to be the best version of myself possible every second of the day,” he says.