Culinary Arts Cafe Annual Grand Opening

Local educators and civic leaders will help celebrate the 14th annual grand opening of one of Sacramento County's best-kept fine dining secrets: the Culinary Arts Caf.  

Students are the driving force behind the caf and the Culinary Arts Program at Leo A. Palmiter Jr. /Sr. High School and Elinor Lincoln Hickey Jr. /Sr. High School.  They are young people with special needs who are learning job and social skills.  Many students who are successful in the Culinary Arts program have been placed in jobs at Sacramento area restaurants.

During the grand opening, patrons will be treated to a lunch of green salad, grilled Moroccan chicken with green couscous, Mediterranean vegetables and homemade pita bread. Many of the ingredients used by the student chefs are grown at a vegetable garden maintained by students.

WHO: Students enrolled in the Sacramento Regional Occupational Program Culinary Arts course will showcase the food preparation and service skills they have learned under Chef/Instructor Jeff Zahniser. The Palmiter and Hickey campuses are operated by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) to serve special student populations.

WHEN: Thursday, October 25, 2012 Restaurant service begins at 12 noon Interviews and photos available 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Culinary Arts Caf at Leo A. Palmiter High School, 2040 Ethan Way (corner of Ethan Way and Cottage Way, three blocks north of Arden Fair Mall).

WHY: Invited guests will celebrate the grand opening of the student-operated Culinary Arts Caf. The caf will begin accepting lunch reservations for Thursday seatings, starting November 1.  The cost is $7.  Gratuity is not included.  All proceeds go back into the program.  Those interested in making lunch reservations call the Culinary Arts Caf at (916) 228-2039. 

The Culinary Arts Caf Web site is www.scoe.net/culinarycafe.