Student-run restaurant at Scottsdale Community College reopens Tuesday

PHOENIX — People will once again be able to taste creations from the young minds in the Scottsdale Community College culinary arts program as the student-run restaurant reopens for lunch service beginning Tuesday.

The Artichoke Grill, located at the campus on Chaparral Road and operated entirely by students in the community college’s culinary arts program, closed in-person dining last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lunch service runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays during the fall semester and online reservations are recommended, according to a press release.

Menu items include soups, salads, sandwiches, grill items and desserts with a new set of food options being available each week that reflects the program’s instruction and learning objectives, according to the release.

The program helps train students who want to become professionals in the culinary industry, with coursework focusing on preparing casual and upscale cuisine.

Mark Dow, the program’s director, said in the release the hardest challenge during the shutdown was not working directly with students.

“Our excellent faculty worked around this by providing live lectures and hands-on demonstrations with our students in a virtual platform,” Dow said, adding the program has a very tactile teaching and learning environment.

He said ingredients were supplied to students on a bi-weekly basis during the shutdown so they had everything needed to complete the lesson plans.

“I’m proud to report that many students thrived in the remote-learning environment,” Dow said.

Now with the restaurant opening back up, Dow said dining capacity may be limited as they work with a smaller team than normal but said, “this will provide for a more personalized educational opportunity with a greater attention to detail and the fundamentals of our tradecraft.”

Scottsdale Community College’s culinary arts program offers multiple degrees and certifications in culinary arts, culinary fundamentals, and commercial bakery and pastry arts, according to the release.

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