ECC exchange program ends with a feast

A "Sound of Music"-like atmosphere, complete with schnitzel, apple strudel, lederhosen and waltzing descended on Elgin Community College recently. Only the Alps were missing.

An Oktoberfest feast, held Friday, Oct. 3, served as the culmination of a week of learning and cultural exchange between the college's culinary arts students and 16 members of Semmering, Austria's BLT School of Tourism, a secondary school which preps students for careers as chefs and in tourism management.

Professor Michael Zema, CCE/FMP, team manager and coach, said the exchange program has been taking place between the schools for 20 years.

"It's gotten familiar," he said. "Now it's like visiting family."

The Austrian students and faculty on the trip stayed at the homes of culinary students and school professors during the week, for a chance to see the Chicago area from a local perspective.

During the day, BLT students participated in culinary arts courses, sauteing, basting and chopping along with their ECC counterparts.

Zema said one of the benefits of the exchange is the emphasis on service the BLT students bring to the table.

"In Europe, many restaurants require three years of experience before you can wait tables," he said.

"Here, our emphasis has been more on preparation."

The menu prepared for the dinner at the college's Spartan Terrace Restaurant included sauerkraut balls, soft pretzels, turkey schnitzel, potato pancakes, apple strudel and kaiserschmarren, a German traditional sweet bread.

For entertainment, BLT students dressed in traditional clothing, singing and waltzing for their 75 guests.

A team of 10 ECC students - Ashley Goedekke, Gina Gustrowsky, Jurice Jackson, Jessica Miszczak, Nancy Mullen, Nancy Piel, Kelly Sover, Christine Von Schrott, Michele Wagner and Steve Wargaski, along with Zema - will head to Austria next spring.