Camp Gonzalez culinary arts class
At Camp Gonzalez, a juvenile detention facility in Calabasas, youth spend their days behind a cement wall topped with barbed wire. About 50, however, are learning culinary arts that could help them to a better live. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Youth participating in the culinary program at the Camp Gonzalez juvenile detention facility line up for their next class. At least one graduate of the program has gone on to culinary school in Pasadena. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Chef Alexis Higgins of Los Angeles Mission College demonstrates bacon-wrapping technique for culinary students Christian,18, left, and Michael,15. Higgins has taught about 50 probationers at the camp each of the last five years. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
A culinary student at Camp Gonzalez works on a cake that will be part of the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Los Angeles Commission for Children and Families last month. Students prepared a meal of bacon-wrapped dates, chili-glazed beef sate, chocolate mousse and more for the event, attended by county officials. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Knives used in culinary classes at the Camp Gonzalez youth detention center are secured by cables. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Camp Gonzalez culinary students Michael, left, and Eric, both 16, prepare a tray of stuffed mushrooms that will be served at the children’s commission celebration. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Probabion officer C. Yepez jokes with Michael, 15, at Camp Gonzalez in Calabasas. The juvenile detention center offers a culinary arts class that could provide students a path to a better life. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Martha Galaif offers praise and encouragement to Michael, 16, a culinary student at Camp Gonzalez youth detention center, during a county event catered by Michael’s class. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Guests line up to sample dishes prepared by the culinary class from Camp Gonzalez youth detention center at a county celebration last month. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Christian, 18, offers a tray of hors d’oeuvres to guests at the county’s annual childrens commission celebration. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, left, chats with Clifford Tjing, 20, a graduate of the Camp Gonzalez juvenile detention center’s culinary program who went on to the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Michael, 15, left, and Irvin, 16, congratulate each other after meeting County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, right, at an event catered by the youths’ culinary class from the Camp Gonzalez juvenile detention center. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)