We all love to eat. Admit it. We love to go out bring a bottle of wine to a restaurant and enjoy a gourmet meal. We found out last night how to do it for $18.00 person. The best known secret is the culinary school. It is impossible and naive to think that all Chefs are taught their trade in France. So therefore they must learn to cook somewhere. Last night we dined At the Atlantic County Community College Culinary Arts Restaurant in Mays Landing. The name of the Restaurant is Carmine and it is located right in the middle of the classrooms on this very nice college campus.
The restaurant doesn't open until 6 pm so you can come a little early and peak into the various classrooms and see the future chefs of New Jersey learning about food preparation, formulating Menu 101 etc. So it is kind of cool waiting in the hall way looking at all the pictures of previous classes, in their Chef uniforms being photographed with their winning food presentations.
Once inside the restaurant there are students buzzing around being assigned to each table. We had two waiters (first and second year students) who doted on us like we were the king, queen, and page. Can I get you a drink (poured with a plate as a splash guard so cute), here are the specials (hey they asked for rolls should we get them)…….
You can hear the teacher in the kitchen bellowing instructions to the third and fourth year students, to plate this and get that making it reminiscent of the TV reality show Hell's kitchen.
The menu had several choices (escargot on mashed potatoes, Manhattan clam chowder, crab meat gratin examples of appetizers). There is always a special last night was Wow fish and linguine and marinara sauce. The deal I discussed before is their pre-fix menu of an appetizer, main course and desert for $18.00....which is weird as the steak was $24. And you can have it as the main course so it is ridiculous not to go with the prefix.
Anyway, my favorite was desert. We shared 3 large crème Brules, which they prepared at the table by pouring rum on them, and then lighting them fire, and chocolate mousse with strawberry garnish.
Their menu changes every 14 days as dictated by the head teacher. They are open for lunch for a buffet of everything on the menu and for dinner Monday – Friday (no classes on weekends so no restaurant). They are also available for private parties.
All in all, a pleasant, inexpensive evening. (Ours was free as my Dad gave us a gift certificate for our anniversary which is why we ordered three appetizers and four deserts).
I guess the point is that you should try it you might like it.
There is a community college in everyone’s neighborhood, and most have a Culinary course of even school. Below I have listed just a few in New Jersey. Take a look, take a chance and enjoy a gourmet meal cheap but delicious.
Morris County Vocational School Denville Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Middlesex County College Edison Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Hudson County Community College Jersey City Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Brookdale Community College Lincroft AAS Culinary Arts, Pastry Certificate
Monmouth County Vocational School District Culinary Arts & Related Services
Atlantic County Vocational Technical School Mays Landing Culinary Arts/Chef
Atlantic County Vocational Technical School Mays Landing Baker/Pastry Chef
Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing Culinary Arts/Chef Training
College of Saint Elizabeth Morristown Foods & Nutrition Studies
Rutgers University-New Brunswick Food Sciences and Tech.
Bergen Community College Paramus Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Burlington County College Pemberton Hospitality & Recreation Mrktng
County College of Morris Randolph Hospitality Services Management
Union County Vocational Technical School Scotch Plains Baker/Pastry Chef
Union County Vocational Technical School Scotch Plains Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Camden County Vocational and Technical Schools Sicklerville Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Raritan Valley Community College SomervileHospitality Services Management
Fairleigh Dickinson University-All Campuses Teaneck Hospitality Services
Ocean County Vocational Post Secondary Division Toms RiverCulinary Arts/Chef Training
Mercer County Community College Trenton Baker/Pastry Chef
Mercer County Community College Trenton Kitchen Personnel/Cook Training
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