Did You Know? Drexel Has a Culinary School, Bar and Restaurant; Soon to be Remodeled

By Cassie Hepler

We’re pretty sure the folks at Drexel hear the same surprised response every time this statement is said out loud.

“Drexel has a culinary school,” said Mike Traud, Assistant Clinical Professor and Program Director Hospitality and Tourism Management.

“No way!” said Explore Philly at a recent event at Alla Spina for Two Roads Brewery. (And ironically were at Garage on June 6 with 2 Roads Brewing Co. – see how that worked out?)

Which lead us to explore what all Drexel University in University City has to offer. Located on the corner of 33rd and Arch at the Paul Peck Building on the 6th floor, this is a building with a lot of creativity buzzing around.

Townsend’s Keith Raimondi will be teaching Spirits & Mixology in the student bar, which looks just like any other old Philadelphia wooden bar and “parents just love seeing that on the school tour,” jokes Traud. All the classes will be open to the public as well.

As a matter of fact, Executive Chef Rich Pepino offers some amazing lunch deals if you’re in the area. 

“You can’t beat $10 for 3 course lunches,” said Traud, also a former chef… and lawyer… and still a chef, sometimes.

Working with Kevin Sbraga and The Garces Group, the students are ripe for the picking.

“Marc Verti plucks the best people because he’s in need of somebody who works well at dinners,” he said.

Take notes, college kids, because they are also working on a pastry expansion in the curriculum. Not only that but they will be offering educational series with 2-3 hours of food cooking. Or you can opt in for a “lecture and a lunch which for $20 is a steal,” said Traud.

Such lectures include but are not limited to hospitality law seminar, hospitality, accounting and real estate. And soon the “decor from the 90’s” will be upgraded with a summer redesign with the funky fresh design firm Floss Barber.

With a posh new place to entertain, the world is Drexel’s oyster with a slew of seminars, tasting, butchery classes and pastry classes coming soon.

“No more outsourcing,” said Traud. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that but DIY is so much better.”

Drexel also is lucky with in house food photographer, Jason Varney, right downstairs who will be there to capture all of the progress along the way. He did Jeremy Nolan’s German Cooking Book and also works for Philly Mag and the Inquirer!

Check out Drexel’s website for the upcoming dinner series.