WAPPINGERS SCHOOL DISTRICT—A local chef dished up lessons on careers and cooking, along with some tangy-sweet salsa, to students at Ketcham High School last week.

Mike Polasek, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and owner of Simply Gourmet in Wappinger, spoke to students in Susanne Shand’s third period Food Prep class at the Myers Corners Road high school April 17, outlining his career path in the culinary industry and sharing food hints and tips with the teens.

Polasek, who took classes similar to Shand’s during his last two years as a student at Arlington High School, said he knew wanted to cook even before he reached AHS. In fact, he sent away for an application to the Culinary Institute of America – and completed it -- when he was still in middle school.

“It’s just born into me,” he said of his love for cooking.

Over the years, Polasek, who has a bachelor’s degree from the CIA, has worked in almost every aspect of the restaurant business, from serving and bartending to managing, cooking, and doing the dishes. And he reminded students that work in the culinary field can go far beyond even that, with opportunities for things like food writing and travel.

“There’s a ton of things you can do besides cooking,” he said.

After working at other restaurants for a time, Polasek opted to do catering and, from there, launched his own business. Simply Gourmet, located in the Summerlin Plaza on Route 376 in Fishkill Plains, serves lunch as well as offering fresh, homemade prepared meals and side dishes that busy residents can pick up on their way home and simply reheat.

Polasek’s visit to the class came about after Shand met him at Simply Gourmet. She said she was “really, really pumped” that Polasek agreed to speak to her students, who come from all grade levels and took Food Prep for a variety of different reasons.

Kate Polumbo, the WCSD Coordinator for Physical Education, Interscholastic Athletics, Family & Consumer Science, & Health, called Polasek’s visit “fantastic” and remarked that he “dove right into the school community.

“It’s great that he’s willing to come in and help us out,” said Polumbo. “It’s a great asset to the community.”

While preparing a batch of mango salsa, Polasek chatted with the students about what they like to cook, the shows they watch on the Food Network, and some of the key ingredients to successful cooking. One of the latter was finding a balance of flavors, which he was attempting to demonstrate with his salsa, which contained mango, onion, jalapeno pepper, red bell pepper, cilantro, and lime juice.

“I did a lot of experimenting when I was young,” he said, noting that it led him to create dishes that are uniquely his, like the barbecue-flavored homemade potato chips he serves at Simply Gourmet.

Warning the students that the food business is a lot of hard, grueling work, he added that it’s also “one of the most rewarding” professions because he can use his creativity and skills to put together a dish that customers enjoy.

Polasek advised the students to “take in everything,” talk to others, and always continue learning, regardless of what career they plan to pursue.

“Learn everything you can,” he said, urging the teens to take the opportunities for education that are available to them right at Ketcham High School. “Don’t let it pass you by.”