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Culinary Students Open "Career Cafe"

Culinary students gather at Ribbon Cutting

The La Porte County Career and Technical Education program held a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 1, 2017 to celebrate the opening of its new student-run restaurant, the “Career Café.” Culinary students from across LaPorte County will plan menus, cook, and serve meals in the restaurant, which is located at the Elston Building (317 Detroit Street) and will be open to the public for lunch beginning November 8.

Culinary coursework centers on technical skills based on the National Restaurant Association's ProStart curriculum as well as the ServSafe food safety curriculum, both leading to national certifications.  Students also learn hospitality management, and with the addition of the cafe, will learn more about customer/client relations and the food service industry, from kitchen to table. Students can earn dual credit from the Ivy Tech during the course of the two year curriculum.

The Career Café is open to the community on Wednesdays and Fridays from 12-1:15 pm beginning November 8, 2017. It offers “Grab and Go” items as well as a sit-down menu.  The cafe will also open for breakfast in the near future. The menu will change monthly; check the AK Smith Facebook page for updates!