The student-run restaurant, the Red Feather Cafe, continues its third year in production. The Red Feather Cafe features students hand-picked recipes and exciting restaurant themes. It is run by the Culinary 3 class and put on once a month. Students are able to show off their culinary and restaurant skills through this unique experience.

Samantha Szopinski, CTE and Culinary 3 teacher, explained the mechanics of the restaurant and how it benefits students.

“They have become really good problem solvers,” Szopinski said. “[They work] really quick on their feet and hav[e] gotten the real-life restaurant experience. The students get recognized by the staff. They get to show off their skills in a way they wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s a really neat experience for people who want to go into the restaurant business.”

The students have done several different themes, including a Panera-styled menu, a chili bar and various other different types of restaurants. The students choose recipes that go with the theme and prepare the food.

They transform the culinary kitchen into a classic restaurant. Students become waiters for a day, preparing and serving food for faculty and staff. They are excused from a day of school in order to focus on the restaurant.

Central teachers can either come to the Culinary 3 classroom and eat or pre-order their food to get it delivered.

Junior Faith Alindog described the way the culinary class has impacted her and her future career plans.

“I took Culinary 2 with Hurst,” Alindog said. “She asked me and some other people to come back and do Culinary 3 with her. I enjoyed [it] and how fun it was. [This class] improves my social skills and makes me more outgoing. [It] prepares me for future jobs that I might take up.”

As the students prepare for food, teachers line up, ready to see what meal will be presented this month. A regular attendee of the Red Feather Cafe and culinary teacher, Terri Rorer, spoke fondly of the cafe.

“It’s a really great opportunity for students who have found a niche that they are interested in to turn their skills into something that other people can see and share it with other people,” Rorer said.