Chef Patrick Phelan, 2023 ProStart® Teacher of the Year, shares insights on mentoring the next generation of restaurant workers and the value of the ProStart Program’s hands-on curriculum! Phelan was just recognized on-stage during the 2023 National ProStart Invitational in Washington, DC.

Listen to the National Restaurant Association’s latest Order Up podcast episode.

Like many aspiring cooks, Chef Patrick Phelan grew up cooking at home and dreamt of being a chef someday. After working in various restaurant roles in college, he worked his way up to pastry chef at a top New Orleans restaurant. But his culinary career took an unexpected turn into education after Hurricane Katrina closed his restaurant. With a reopening uncertain, Patrick went looking for a new job and landed one as a ProStart educator for a school in the area. Nearly two decades later, he’s still teaching and was recently named 2023 ProStart Teacher of the Year. Listen in to hear more about Patrick’s commitment to educating tomorrow’s restaurant leaders.