For the primary time, Lengthy Seaside Metropolis School's culinary arts program had a student-operated meals truck on the 2024 Acura Lengthy Seaside Grand Prix. College students skilled and discovered find out how to drive and work a meals truck. (Picture by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The road of meals vans on the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside has one thing for everybody, together with, should you're an LBCC culinary arts scholar, work expertise.
That's proper, Lengthy Seaside Metropolis School's culinary arts program debuted its meals truck at this weekend's Grand Prix, providing banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich usually served on a baguette. It’s a comparatively easy dish for college kids to arrange, however additionally it is a unique kind of meals than what is generally supplied at festival-type occasions.
“We simply wished to do one thing easy so college students might get an concept of what it's prefer to work at a meals truck,” mentioned Alex Lopez, a former scholar in LBCC's culinary program who now helps train courses. “It additionally will get them used to working with folks, particularly in a small area, and interacting with prospects.”
Lengthy Seaside Metropolis School provides a number of profession technical teaching programs that present college students with the tutorial and technical expertise, information and coaching wanted for careers akin to hospitality administration and, in fact, culinary arts.
The idea of the meals truck was for college kids in LBCC's culinary program to get actual work expertise. However making that concept a actuality was not a straightforward process. It took chef Haley Nguyen, head of LBCC's culinary arts division, 4 years to get the concept off the bottom, with assist from different LBCC school and employees as effectively.
“We have now a terrific program at Lengthy Seaside Metropolis School, from hospitality to culinary, and it's superb to convey this idea to life,” Juan Herrera, an LBCC employees member who helped supervise college students this weekend, ensuring the truck It could work with out issues. , he mentioned on Saturday afternoon, April 20. “It is usually a possibility to advertise our CTE applications.”
Alumni of LBCC's culinary program stopped by the truck this weekend, purchased a sandwich and shared with present college students what their journey has been like since graduating from this system, Herrera mentioned. This additional inspired the scholars who volunteer on the truck, she mentioned.
“I've been in a position to study meals vans and that rising enterprise, and it's been nice to be at this occasion and see the races,” mentioned Adam Maley, a scholar in LBCC's hospitality administration program. “It's been numerous enjoyable to this point.”
The scholars have been making banh mi with three protein choices: pork, hen or vegetarian. The protein is served on contemporary baguettes that the scholars additionally baked.
“We thought we should always do one thing totally different,” mentioned Lopez, who graduated from the culinary arts program in 2022, “as a result of everybody else is making burgers, sizzling canine, and we wished to supply one thing refreshing.”
Clients had been impressed with the pace of service and complimented the meals. Additionally they thought the student-operated meals truck was an attention-grabbing idea.
“It's good and really scrumptious,” mentioned Jordan Chu, 10, of Redlands.
“Coming from a 10-year-old, which means quite a bit,” mentioned his mom, Vanessa Vargas.
“We normally like these sandwiches and we walked in and my husband mentioned we should always get some,” Vargas added. “They seemed scrumptious and we will't wait to attempt them. “It’s superb that college students are doing them.”
For Jennica Magarro, this semester is her first time in this system, in addition to her first time within the Grand Prix.
“I've at all times cherished cooking,” he mentioned. “In a method I inherited that love for cooking from my mom, she taught me all the pieces I do know.
“I feel that is a tremendous alternative for college kids,” Magarro added about being a part of the meals truck. “It's a terrific volunteer alternative and should you had been keen on opening your personal meals truck at some point, you’d positively study quite a bit from this expertise.”