What to do when you get here — An insider’s guide to interests and attractions in the area surrounding The Cliff House Resort & Spa.

Students in the Kitchen

There is some innovative training going on in the kitchen at The Cliff House. Here student interns are preparing for culinary careers. They learn to be part of The Cliff House team with its wide and varied food and beverage services, which include menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as weddings and corporate functions. Students also work in the on-site herb garden and operate the Spa Pool Bar & Grill.

College credits received are based on hours worked and are accredited through The Cliff House. These are paid internships of six hundred hours ranging from three to six month timeframes with housing available. Upon completion of their internships, the students submit a portfolio of their experiences for college credit.

The students come from Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island; New England Culinary Institute in Vermont; and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York. Some interns return year after year (like guests do) for the experience and the prospect of joining The Cliff House’s talented culinary staff. John, a culinary graduate of Macintosh, is now a pastry chef at the resort.

Students say that they initially come for summer in Maine and all the things to do. Then they discover there is a lot to learn in such a busy kitchen with its diverse menus.

The Cliff House also offers an annual scholarship. This fund was established to benefit students who wish to pursue a degree in culinary, restaurant and hotel management. To be eligible for the award applicants must be graduates of any York County high school and/or children of Cliff House employees.