Dine at MCC's student-run restaurant

For fine dining and innovative culinary delights, residents need only drive a short distance to McHenry County College's student-managed restaurant, Slàinte (pronounced "slawn-cha").

The restaurant features a new spring menu Mondays and Tuesdays through April 23. The three-course prix fixe menu features an appetizer, entrée and a dessert for $25 per person.

The spring menu features appetizer options: Maryland crabcakes with roasted red pepper coulis, grilled skirt steak tacos served with pico de gallo and queso fresco, and Pacific salmon en croute with chive butter sauce, soup de jour, and seasonal salad with herb vinaigrette.

Entrée options include: pan seared beef tenderloin with garlic roasted fingerling potatoes and Bordelaise sauce, fettuccine carbonara, grilled chicken breast with vegetable corn tortilla timbale with saffron rice served with ancho chile sauce, and spring risotto.

Desserts feature crème brule served with berries and caramelized sugar, classic profiteroles (cream puffs filled with vanilla ice cream and covered with warm chocolate sauce) and a dessert de jour.

With a focus on sustainable and hands-on practice, culinary students learn preparation, handling, sanitation and safety. In addition to standard coursework, students gain real-world experience at Slàinte, where they produce gourmet menu items, prepare nonalcoholic specialty drinks, fresh brewed espresso drinks and provide professional and friendly customer service.

Hours are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Seating capacity is 60. The restaurant is in the MCC Scot Room, Building B, Room 178, 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

For menu details and more information, visit www.mchenry.edu/slainte. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are encouraged. To make a reservation, call (815) 479-7800 or email slainterestaurant@mchenry.edu.