As a family friend of Blackstone Valley Tech (BVT) football coach Jim Archibald, Northbridge resident Joel Brown is a regular at BVT football games. At the Beavers’ recent season-opener against Bay Path, Brown was one of many fans who flocked to the BVT concession stand during halftime. But instead of ordering the usual fare of hot dogs and cheeseburgers, Brown decided try something different.
He went with the meatball and provolone slider.
The slider is one of the latest additions to the stand’s unique menu, which is created, prepared and served by students from the BVT Culinary Arts program. While classics like hot dogs, popcorn, and sausage sandwiches are regular menu items, the students are encouraged to come up with additional specialties that go beyond the burger.
“Because the Culinary Arts program runs the concession stand, you end up with people cooking who are passionate about food and interested in doing something outside the box,” said Culinary Arts Team Leader Chef Matthew Williams.
At the victorious home opener, the “Culinary Arts Specialties” on the concession stand menu included: grilled honey-lime chicken breast with salsa and chipotle sour cream on a whole grain roll; corn-chips and chili pie; and grilled chicken wings doused in homemade buffalo sauce. Even a classic item like nachos and cheese consisted of homemade tortilla chips and homemade nacho cheese sauce.
BVT senior Raymond Morley of Millbury said that operating the concession stand is a chance for students to raise funds for the annual Culinary Arts senior trip, which consists of a three-day immersion in the culinary traits and history of a particular region. In addition to the fundraising, Morley said that running the stand provides BVT students with valuable experience.
“This is real world work,” Morley said as he and Chef Williams grilled a batch of wings. “We put in all the prep time, we do all the cooking and we do all the clean up. We’re serving the public, so we need to learn how to get the food out there efficiently while keeping the people happy.”
If Brown’s review of the stand’s “top shelf” meatball and provolone slider is any indication, Morley and his fellow Culinary Arts students are certainly succeeding in keeping their customers happy.
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. The school’s website is http://www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.
latest specialties of the BVT concession stand, which is managed by Culinary Arts students.
UPTON DAILY 