If you’ve got a hankering for a hot lunch this fall, look no further than the Auburn Room Restaurant.
If you’ve got a hankering for a hot lunch this fall, look no further than the Auburn Room Restaurant.
Located at Auburn Career Center in Concord Township, students from several area school districts possess the keys to the kitchen, where they produce astounding taste creations to wow your palate.
Student chefs will be cooking five-star food for patrons. Those who make a lunch reservation for one of six Thursdays this autumn will be greeted by centerpieces, courtesy of the school’s horticulture program, as well as table decorations and cutting boards furnished by students in metalworking and woodworking classes.
Amy Ryan, ACC culinary arts instructor, said students had been working hard to develop this year’s fall menu, which includes appetizers like chicken and waffles with a delicious pumpkin dip platter, chicken paprikash and shepherd’s pie, and two desserts — a “brookie” served a la mode and handmade apple fritters.
The fritters, which come “coated in a sweet vanilla glaze with a drizzle of our homemade caramel sauce,” are the creation of Jade Fink, a senior from Berkshire High School, who refused to divulge her recipe to a group of area business leaders, school administration and reporters at an Oct. 10 tasting event.
In an interview, Jade said Ryan’s instruction in the kitchen is “really, really amazing.”
“Ms. Ryan is unlike any other person,” Jade said. “She is fantastic. She’s super sweet, but gets the job done and makes sure we know what we’re doing.”
Jade currently bakes for DS Cakes & Sweet Café in Newbury. Her current boss is giving her lessons in business ownership, which Jade said is valuable, as she has planned since age 5 to own her own bakery.
Jase Muni, a Chardon senior, said the ACC culinary program has come in handy at his job as a line cook at Sand Ridge Golf Club, where he’s been able to help at least one coworker who lacked similar culinary training.
His signature dish marries fettuccine pasta with a spicy-sweet red pepper pesto sauce, topped with marinated shrimp.
“Working on a line, like, being the one making the actual food instead of just prepping,” Jase said are advantages he has working in the Auburn restaurant kitchen.
It’s also a safe place to make mistakes, both Jade and Jase said, as the environment Ryan has created is one of teamwork and positive support.
Present at the tasting was Amy DiDomenico, marketing manager at D&S Automotive Collision and Restyling — one of about a dozen representatives of area businesses there who sponsor ACC programs.
DiDomenico said D&S works hand-in-hand with the school through its Rise Above Student Internship program.
“The automotive program has fostered some wonderful interns for us being in that shop environment as their ‘classroom’ and many have been hired after they graduate,” she said.
D&S employees — many once ACC students themselves — are also able to go into the classroom setting and teach skills to the students, she said.
DiDomenico said she has eaten at the Auburn Room Restaurant in the past and would definitely go again for lunch or a working lunch meeting.
“The food was amazing,” she said. “The students were so dedicated to crafting what they were making for us and they put in the effort to perfect each dish that was brought out.”
The Auburn Room Restaurant is open on select Thursdays only, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis, and Ryan warned they fill up fast.
The Auburn Room Restaurant is open from noon to 1:30 p.m. select Thursdays this fall:
October 19
October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16
December 7
To reserve a table, call 440-357-7542.
