Spartan Terrace touts tasty seasonal menu
Spartan Terrace, the upscale restaurant operated by students of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Institute of Elgin at Elgin Community College, has opened for the fall. The Culinary Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
The restaurant serves guests on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch, with the exception of Tuesday and Oct. 23, Nov. 6 and 22, and closes for the fall semester at the end of lunch Nov. 29.
Guests become part of the students' learning experience as they perfect their service and culinary skills in preparation for careers in the hospitality industry. The upscale entrees are prepared by student chefs under the watchful eye of Mark Bosanac, associate professor and certified executive chef, who will be grading their work.
The menus, which are created by the students and their culinary instructors, are changed once or twice during the semester to give students the opportunity to prepare and serve a variety of dishes. In addition, they learn how to create presentations for the various dishes with an eye to artistry and taste.
Guests will find themselves tempted by such delights as vegetable and cheese fondue; cider-glazed pork loin; sea scallops and grapefruit butter; Mediterranean pasta; paella Cubana; beef au poivre and bean ragout; seafood stew; and duck served two ways. Entree prices range from $8 to $10, with half orders available for most entrees at $5 to $7.
Terrace Eatery, a first-time offering from the culinary students, will operate simultaneously within Spartan Terrace. This "restaurant within a restaurant" offers diners their own quaint seating area; simpler fare prepared by the students, such as appetizers, soup and sandwiches with prices ranging from $2.50 to $6; and the opportunity for both front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house students to learn in another unique atmosphere.
The innovative Spartan Terrace menu focuses on fine dining at reasonable prices, and the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Institute of Elgin is considered one of the most successful culinary arts programs in the country. Award-winning students train with award-winning professional chefs and faculty members.
Reservations for lunch are recommended and available by calling (847) 214-7382 or by going online to www. elgin.edu/spartanterrace.