Teacher Ashley Lear: "This is a student-led, work-based restaurant."
Staff members at Lucerne Valley Middle High School no longer have to bring a sack lunch, get something at the cafeteria, or go off campus to grab a quick meal. Officially starting on Friday, April 25 teachers and other employees will get the opportunity to order a custom-made burger, fries, soft drink and optional pastry item from the Corral, the Culinary Arts program’s brand new student-run lunchtime restaurant.
The culinary students cook, prepare and serve the food at the Corral, which is named as an ode the Middle High School’s mascots — the Colts and the Mustangs. “This is a student-led, work-based restaurant,” says teacher Ashley Lear.
Ms. Lear sends out an email that says what’s on the menu for the next day and then the staff member calls in their order. “The teachers put their order in the day before so the kids know how much they’re going to make.”
The orders are then prepared in the program classroom, which has professional-grade grills, ovens, prep work stations and all the necessary kitchen tools. Students then put each order in a to-go back and bring them to the Corral where the staff members pick up the meals. Staff members can either eat their food in the restaurant or take it back to their work stations. Instead of cash or credit card, special pre-purchased cards are used. Restaurant cashiers punch out the customer lunch cards with each punch representing $1.
Superintendent Peter Livingston, head counselor Kevin Barda, Assistant Superintendent Nate Lambdin and Assistant Principal Jessica Haecker each enjoyed a burger and fries during the Corral Restaurant's soft opening on April 12th.
To start, the restaurant staff will be keeping the menu limited. “They’re not going to be doing multiple items for a little while just to get them used to the feel of cooking it and getting it out,” the teacher says.
The Corral hosted a “soft opening” on Friday, April 12, which attracted a number of hungry staff members including Superintendent Peter Livingston, Assistant Superintendent Nate Lambdin, Assistant Principal Jessica Haecker and Head Counselor Kevin Barda.
“The Corral, so aptly named here at Lucerne Valley High School, is something we had in the works for many years,” says Mr. Lambdin, who previously was the school’s principal before being named the district’s assistant superintendent. “Behind every great program is a great person, and Ashley Lear has taken over in the short time she’s been here we have our soft opening. The kids are doing great, the food’s amazing, and I’m super excited to be here.”
Sandwiches are on the menu for Friday, April 19th, a week before the official opening.