MODESTO — Central Catholic High School decided two years ago to hire a true chef to run the food program at CCHS and the decision was met with tremendous favor from students and staff. 

“The Bistro,” as the students refer to it, offers paninis everyday along with fresh salads, fresh fruit, turkey roast beef and chicken wraps, veggie trays, homemade breakfast burritos and a variety of specials each day.  For example:  Tuesday is Taco Tuesday for $1.  On Wednesday Chef offers crepes 

before school and during break.  This year Chef Canela and his crew opened a grab and go - Healthy Snack Café, in another part of the school which features yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit and granola, salads, juice and a variety of healthy snacks.

Recently, the Gallo family committed $2.2 million to the new Mark Gallo Health and Fitness Center to be built on the Central Catholic campus. The money will be donated from the Mark Gallo Trust.  Mark was a CCHS student who died in 1977 from a rare disease. The Health and fitness center will feature a nutrition lab in addition to a gymnasium and fitness center. The goal is to offer nutrition classes to students while attending CCHS.

The school is in the final stages of planning the center and hope to move to the next phase right after the first of the year.