The sound of crunching on chips and salsa filled the room.
This was not the dining room of a Mexican restaurant, but a Montclair High School classroom.
The campus’ culinary arts students were taking part Thursday, Feb. 19, in a salsa-making competition to hone their skills.
It’s among the activities in the program that offers beginning through advanced courses aimed at preparing students for possible careers in the food industry.
The classroom sports commercial-grade ovens, industrial refrigeration units, rolling sheet pan racks, and stainless steel food preparation stations — just like those seen in the business.
Montclair High School senior Anamaria Rodriguez, 17, enjoys salsa made by fellow students in the culinary arts program on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Montclair High School culinary arts students share samples of salsa they made on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Students at Montclair High School prepare for their culinary arts class by making salsa Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Montclair High School Principal Lino Gomez, center, and Assistant Principal Austin Rico, right, taste samples of salsa made by culinary arts students on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Montclair High School culinary arts student prepares a chip with salsa Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Montclair High School culinary arts student offers a salsa sample to a classmate Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Montclair High School freshman Kimora Tucker, 15, enjoys salsa made by culinary arts classmates Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Montclair High School senior culinary arts students Elvys Marquez, left, and Joseph Chavez, right, both 18, taste salsa after a classroom competition Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Montclair High School freshman Jaslin Ramos, 15, prepares salsa for judging during her culinary arts class on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Salsa drips off a chip Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, made by Montclair High School culinary arts students. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Montclair High School culinary arts program chef and teacher Michael Grover instructs students during a Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, salsa-making competition. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Montclair High School culinary arts program chef and teacher Michael Grover, right, speaks with senior Joseph Chavez, left, 18, as he prepares his team’s salsa for tasting on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Montclair High School senior Anamaria Rodriguez, 17, enjoys salsa made by fellow students in the culinary arts program on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Salsa created by teenagers is a key ingredient of the classes, which are part of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District’s Career Technical Education program. Students divide into teams to create recipes and even design labels for packaging as they learn about food preparation, business and marketing.
“We try to train them on a professional level with technical and workplace skills they can use anywhere,” teacher and chef Michael Grover said in a news release. “We teach them to be on time, to work as a team, to think critically, to understand business and math and to cost out a menu … We’re creating a real-world environment for them.”
Students said they are learning about more than recipes and the food business.
“I learned how to be a team player, how to stay organized and how to work safely,” junior Angel Navidad said in the release. “It’s a learning experience if you want to serve people and work in hospitality.”
Junior Andy Vin said in the release: “We learn professionalism, safety and even finance. He teaches us things we can apply to real life, not just cooking.”
For information on the Chaffey District’s Career Technical Education resources, click here.
Dining and Cooking