RAVE REVIEWS FOR LA BRIGADE RESTAURANT AT YORK HIGH

Learning essential life skills while exploring passions and pathways.

By: Tonya Daniels

Did you know that one of the most sought-after restaurants in Elmhurst is located in York High School? Vietnamese veggie spring rolls with chili sauce, creamy lemon spinach pasta, lemon coconut cheesecake…these are just examples of the creative culinary works of art that you could experience if you are able to snag one of the highly sought-after reservations to a La Brigade luncheon or dinner.

The La Brigade Restaurant is operated by students in the Food and Restaurant Management class, part of the Career and Technical Education Division at York. La Brigade provides an opportunity for students to experience, hands-on, what it takes to run a restaurant or kitchen from front-of-house service to back-of-house service. Students are responsible to develop the menus, plan out the plating, test the recipes, scale the recipes, order all of the groceries, schedule the preparation plan for the week leading up to a luncheon and create the placement and responsibilities of their employees to ensure success on the day of the event. From opening the kitchen to prep and service, it is completely run and managed by the La Brigade student team.

“This class isn’t just about restaurants and food,” said La Brigade Restaurant Teacher Wendy Albert. “Students are learning to think on their feet, to collaborate and work as a team. They are learning how to challenge their thinking and come up with original ideas, and to shift and pivot in the moment as customer needs are changing. This class provides an opportunity for them to build essential life skills that they can apply throughout the rest of their lives.”

Teegan, a Senior in the La Brigade class, spoke with us about what this class has meant to her. “It taught me how to work well in stressful situations especially when something goes wrong. We work as a team to problem solve,” she shared. “It has taught me how to lead others and has helped me find these passions in myself. Without this class I wouldn’t be able to manage as much as I do now.”

While enrolled in this class, students have the opportunity to receive their sanitation license through the completion of coursework for ServeSafe Sanitation Manager. ServSafe is a food and beverage safety training and certificate program that they also receive free college credit for completing. This certification signifies to a restaurant manager that these students know how to prepare and serve food in a safe manner.

La Brigade student, Nora, will be attending the University of Alabama as a major in food and restaurant management and shared how she felt this class has prepared her for college. “I’ve really learned a lot in this class that will help me as I begin classes in college. I was able to receive my ServSafe certificate, meaning that I will already have college credits, but it has also taught me so much about teamwork.”

Reflecting on the breadth of academic options at York, Ms. Albert shared, with pride, that she loves the students at York because, “they come in passionate and excited about learning and wanting to work together to produce the highest level of food and service that they can. York is amazing because we have so many different opportunities for kids and I have loved seeing students find their place. Whether that is in the restaurant field, music, industrial technology, or business, we have so many ways for students to explore their personal passions and career options. It is rewarding when students find that place for them and to see them grow and thrive.”

La Brigade hosts multiple lunch and dinner events throughout the year. If you want to be added to the list to receive information about each of them, you can email labrigade@elmhurst205.org. Make sure you grab your reservations quickly because they have been known to sell out in under two hours!