October 6, 2022

Culinary students at Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) will sharpen their skills and aim to please the tastebuds of their patrons at the Community Table, a new on-campus restaurant. Students will gain hands-on experience in food service and restaurant management, including hosting, serving, menu creation, and made-from-scratch cooking to further prepare them with job-ready skills in their chosen profession. The Community Table opens to the community for lunch at 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays beginning October 13.

“Culinary is a hands-on career refined with practice,” said Kayla Harper, Associate Professor of Culinary Arts, LRCC alumnus, and 17-year veteran chef. “We are excited to open the Community Table to provide our students with the opportunity to implement what they’ve been learning and give them the chance to feel what it is like to work in the industry. We have been preparing recipes for weeks and cannot wait to showcase our Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts programs within the community.”

Each semester the Community Table will feature hand-made culinary creations from one of three courses – Classical Cuisine, Worldwide Cuisine, or U.S. Regional Cuisine – with a weekly rotating menu. This fall, the Community Table will highlight the Classical Cuisine course, which explores French fare, including terminology, preparation, and ingredients. The restaurant, serving up to 50 guests, will utilize items prepared by other classes, including bread and a la carte dessert offerings designed by Pastry Arts students.

“Joining the culinary arts program here at LRCC has been beneficial, not only in my culinary career but in my everyday life. I am looking forward to using what I have learned at the Community Table,” said Madison Damon of Pembroke, Mass. “The college has provided me with the knowledge and skills to better myself as a chef and new friendships with the most amazing students, staff, and community.”

The hospitality industry is a large part of the regional economy, and graduates of LRCC will have opportunities to make an immediate impact on the vibrancy of their communities.

According to New Hampshire’s Economic Labor Market Information Bureau, 43,579 food preparation and serving-related openings are projected in the state from 2021 through 2023. To help fill these in-demand positions, LRCC offers two-year programs in Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts that prepare students for a career in a variety of culinary and pastry venues, as well as a certificate in Hotel and Restaurant Operations.

Click here to view a sample menu for the Community Table or make reservations.

Lakes Region Community College is a fully accredited, comprehensive community college located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire that serves over 1,200 students annually and offers housing options for students. LRCC provides more than 40 degree and certificate programs, including Automotive and Marine Technology, Fire Science, Nursing, Culinary Arts, Business, Accounting, and more. In addition, LRCC provides a strong background in Liberal Arts for students who choose to complete their first two years at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college or university for a baccalaureate degree. Lakes Region Community College is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire. For more information, visit lrcc.edu.