Del Mar Culinary Arts students kick off Coastal Bend Restaurant Week

Del Mar College’s Hospitality & Culinary Institute served a Japanese-inspired buffet that was prepared by students in the food production and services class at a recent luncheon.

Joseph Lemus, student manager, put together the menu for the Sept. 21 luncheon and ran the operations for the Teaching Restaurant, located at Oso Creek. The luncheon commences the third year of Coastal Bend Restaurant Week, which will run Sept. 22 through Oct. 1.

Lemus said he has an interest in a Japanese-style cooking and is inspired by the precision of Japanese chefs’ skills.

“Japanese style of cooking is its own world,” Lemus said.

The menu showcased those Japanese flavors and style. The food production and service class prepared and served the following menu: Chicken Yakitori, Pork Katsu, Potato Mochi, Soba Noodles, Stir Fried Vegetables, Honey Garlic Green Beans, Japanese Milk Bread, Matcha-Strawberry Cake, with a full salad bar including Edamame Salad, Sweet Sesame Vinaigrette and Miso Soup. 

“The coolest part of this experience is giving the students that are working in this class exposure to all these restaurant professionals that are coming in,” said Chip Campbell, chairperson of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship.

Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Specialization, and Hospitality Management are housed at Oso Creek campus. These programs help students practice their craft to be able to manage a restaurant from the front end to the back end of the “house” and everything in between. Students will gain the knowledge and skills to be able to open a restaurant of their own or work in an existing restaurant.

Students, staff and faculty can utilize the Teaching Restaurant on Thursdays for the fall semester. Make sure to look out for the emails that include service dates and times, and the menu.

To learn more about the Hospitality & Culinary Institute, visit delmar.edu or contact the Department of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship at 361-698-1372.

Costal Bend Restaurant Week promotes participating local restaurants. The local restaurants develop specific menus to showcase their cuisine at a set price. You can find participating restaurants and menus at coastalbendrestaurantweek.com.