University of Montana West Campus culinary students serve high-end cuisine at low-end prices

Students of the culinary arts school at the University of Montana’s College of Technology http://www.cte.umt.edu/businesstech/culinaryarts/ are using a working restaurant and grill as their classroom, churning out everything from cheeseburgers and fries to rosemary-breaded veal cutlets.

The restaurant cooking courses serve as a practical learning tool for students looking to become familiar with each aspect of the restaurant business, said Thomas Campbell, dean of the Culinary Arts School. The fine dining and grill restaurants in the main administrative building on the COT campus aren’t new, but in the past, menus at the restaurant changed themes weekly. The 
newest incarnation is an Italian-style restaurant called Giovanni’s, which will remain open through the fall semester.

“It initially was like a cafeteria back in the vo-tech days, but it evolved into this,” said Campbell, gesturing at the restaurant’s dining area with its checkered tablecloths and candles set in wine bottles.

Giovanni’s is the brainchild of culinary school student John Caruso, who designed the menu and built the business plan. Caruso created and helps staff the restaurant as part of his required internship for graduation.

“The teaching thing is key,” Caruso said. “So we can’t make changes to make a profit at the expense of my and the other 
students’ education.”

Story by Collin Behan

Full Story: http://www.montanakaimin.com/index.php/arts/arts_article/culinary_students_serve_high-end_cuisine_at_low-end_prices/4283