STUDENTS WRAP UP AUBURN ROOM RESTAURANT

Student-run eatery will offer new winter menu in February, instructor says

The secret’s out. Word of the gourmet creations served at the Auburn Room Restaurant has made its way into the community as the student-run eatery last week successfully concluded its inaugural run.

The culinary arts program’s showpiece, as Auburn Superintendent Brian Bontempo describes it, opened to the public every Thursday this fall for nine weeks. It served epicurean entrées that the students, under the guidance of instructor Amy Ryan, conceived themselves, including zucchini parmesan, cider-marinated pork tenderloin and pan-seared Norwegian salmon.

Through its initial opening, the nearly 60-seat restaurant drew hundreds, including large parties as the holidays approached.

Ryan said the students even catered an off-site event for 200 people.

“We had 30 people from the Geauga (County) YMCA visit and we also served a group from the Wickliffe Senior Center,” she added. “It’s just a great atmosphere. The students did an absolutely fantastic job to open the restaurant. We’re doing things we’ve never done pursuing these opportunities.

“We’re excited to have this available for the community, so we’ll see.” — Amy Ryan

“The ship has been launched. I’m blown away how quickly this has taken off and we’ve continued to improve every day. They’ve really stepped up their game. We’re so proud of them.”

The popularity of the Auburn Room as even attracted a core of repeat customers.

“We’ve even seen couples visit us every week, and that’s been great, too, because they inquire about the students and what they’re preparing for next,” Ryan said. “I strongly suggest making reservations because at times, there hasn’t been room, unfortunately, to accommodate all of the people lined up at the door since we only operate from noon to about 1:30 p.m.”

The restaurant does, however, offer hot and cold “Grab & Go” dishes designed in anticipation of such overflow, and not just cast off remnants.

Ryan emails a weekly newsletter listing different options which have included shrimp pot stickers, lemon butter chicken pasta, and Korean beef and brown rice, in addition to churros, cookies and other bagged and boxed pastries.

When the restaurant reopens in mid-February, the students will debut a new selection of entrées with their

“Winter 2019 Menu,” complete with appetizers, soup, salad and desserts.

In the interim, the students prepare for different divisions of culinary competitions, in addition to regular program curriculum.

Currently, Auburn has 37 students, consisting of 20 juniors and 17 seniors from local high schools, participating in its culinary arts program. Various jobs are performed in preparation for the restaurant’s operations with students rotating responsibilities at several stations.

“Everyone gets the wellrounded, real-world experience serving, dishwashing, hosting and running the cash register, in addition to working dessert, pantry and salad, expo, fryer and the line where entrées are plated,” Ryan said.

“No one hides from any task, and even on the floor, the students introduce themselves professionally, interacting with the community. No detail is too small.”

With its success, Ryan is “brainstorming” ideas to add additional seating and also considering whether to open Auburn Room more than one day a week.

“As a restaurant, like other businesses, you always want to stay busy, so the challenge now is to be able to do just that,” she said. “We’re excited to have this available for the community, so we’ll see.”

Madison Township residents Karen Rogers and Al Povhe, and Jan Karlson, of Painesville Township, are a handful of friends who’ve made it a point to visit Auburn Room every week.

As big fans of the “Fall 2018 Menu,” the trio is excited to see what the students come up with in February.

“We consider ourselves regulars now, and we’ve also made it a point to bring out-of-town company here,” Rogers said. “We’ve also celebrated birthdays here. I recommend Auburn Room to anybody because it’s also a great way to support the community.”

Povhe agrees with Rogers, adding that getting to know the students rounds out the experience.

“Just like any favorite place you have, it’s fun getting to know the people and watching a great place run smooth,” he said. “The kids do their thing and they’re good at it. We get to see most of them for two years, too, starting when they are juniors. This is a wonderful program.”

Auburn Career Center is located at 8140 Auburn Road.

For more information about the Auburn Room, call 440-357-7542, ext. 8210 or visit http:// www.auburncc.org/ AuburnRoomRestaurant. aspx.

CHAD FELTON — THE NEWS-HERALD Noah Thompson, left, and Shane Prolenski prepare roasted tomato and basil bisque in the Auburn Room Restaurant kitchen on Dec. 13. The restaurant, run by the culinary arts program students, opened in early October and has been booked every Thursday. Now closed for the semester, the eatery will reopen in mid-February and offer a new menu.

CHAD FELTON — THE NEWS-HERALD Auburn Career Center culinary arts program student Rhamaud Henton serves Al Povhe, Jan Karlson, center, and Karen Rogers last week at the Auburn Room Restaurant in Concord Township. The restaurant just concluded its opening nine-week run and will reopen in mid-February.

CHAD FELTON — THE NEWS-HERALD Jesseca Urban, left, and servers Maggie Myers, Sierra Nason and AJ Haffa, left to right, work together at Auburn Room Restaurant last week. The student-run restaurant is under the guidance of Auburn Career Center culinary arts program instructor Amy Ryan.