Three years ago, Linda Guseman '04 felt trapped in a job she hated and desperately wanted to quit. Hoping to utilize a life-long love of cooking, she decided to attend an open house at CSCA. "I was so impressed," Linda recalled. "Here was a group of people in the same situation—discouraged and unfulfilled in their current jobs and all of them wanting to pursue their passion for food."

Encouraged by a supportive husband who pushed her to do what she loved instead of staying in a job she detested, Linda became a student in the fall of 2003. Studying didn't come easy for Linda, but she spent hours pouring over notes and making so much puff pastry that her husband gained ten pounds—and persevered. "It was a great experience for me, although I spent a lot of time agonizing over every upcoming quiz," she said. "Despite all the stress, I knew this was where I needed to be, and I did what I had to do."

When she started thinking about what she'd do after graduation, Linda knew that she wanted to work in fine dining and would accept nothing less. She also realized that she wanted to work in her own community. Just before graduation, she started working the garde manger station for the Lafayette House in Foxboro, a historic fine-dining restaurant founded in 1784 whose guests included George Washington and Ben Franklin.

Linda credits her time at CSCA as the reason the restaurant owner hired her despite having no experience in the food industry. "If it wasn't for my training at the school and what it prepared me to do, it wouldn't be possible for me to do what I'm doing now," she said. "The instructors are fabulous, very patient, and great teachers." She is particularly grateful for the quality of her Basics education and the tutelage of Chef Stephan. "He set it up, got me focused, and provided the foundation for the creativity that came later. He pushed me, always looking over my shoulder and gave me the tools I needed to move through the program and into a professional kitchen. He really made a difference in my culinary training."

After three months at the Lafayette House, making more platters than she wants to remember, Linda asked to move to the hot side of the kitchen, taking over the grill and ovens. After a year on those stations, she was offered a job at another local restaurant as general manager. But after six months, the owner sold the restaurant, so she returned to the Lafayette House. Three months later, she was promoted to manager of the restaurant, overseeing three function rooms and two dining rooms that seat 250 people. She does a little bit of everything—customer service; coordinating functions for weddings, funerals, bar/bat mitzvahs; training; and opening and closing the restaurant. She even tends bar when she gets a chance. But Linda didn't want to lose her connection with the kitchen, so despite all these new responsibilities, she still spends one 12-hour day every week on the grill. "It's my passion," Linda said. "The reason I went to culinary school. I like being a manager, but I can't give up cooking. I truly love it."

"I am so grateful to the school for giving me the quality training I needed to get a job in fine dining. When I started at the restaurant, I wasn't physically prepared for the work I had to do. For the first month, I came home every night in tears. It's hard work, but I built up a tolerance. And luckily, I didn't have to worry about technique; I was prepared for that part of the business, although I had a lot to learn about expediting. But I still 'salt my water like the sea!'"

Because the restaurant is so close to Gillette Stadium, the Lafayette House at times caters New England Patriots opening day events for guests such as Elton John and Toby Keith. Catering is a big part of the restaurant's business, and Linda is always scheduling events. It's a part of the job she enjoys—working with customers and making sure they have the best event possible. But she still hears the call of the kitchen and cooks at home all the time. "I'll always cook," she said. "It's who I am."

If you are interested in visiting Linda at the Lafayette House, it's located on Route 1 Foxboro, 508-543-5344. She'd love to see you!