Beyond the kitchen

DECATURCome September, what will be a new restaurant for community members will serve as a laboratory for students at Richland Community College.

When people think of a lab, they usually picture beakers and Bunsen burners, instead of forks, spoons and duck pat, said Greg Florian, Richland vice president of finance and administration.

After about $1 million and a year of construction, the college invited the public Wednesday to get a peek of Bistro 537, the Culinary Arts Institute student-operated restaurant. The ribbon-cutting doubled as a Business After Hours event for the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce where food, beverages and tours of the facility were provided to more than 150 attendants.

Chamber President Mirinda Rothrock said Bistro 537 will give students real-life experience that could lead to one day opening their own restaurant and spurring commerce in the community.

The culinary institute is one great way to think of economic development, Rothrock said. Students here receiving their education are becoming our future work force.

Though most of the construction on the facility, located adjacent to the Shilling Center, has been completed, the college will focus on finalizing detail work during the summer, Florian said.

Once open, the restaurant will offer lunch and dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the menu changing each month.

From a fast lunch service to a fine dining experience and everything in between, the menu will evolve each month as students progress, Chef Ryan Rogiers said.

The restaurant serves as one project in a long list of construction developments taking place at the college this summer.

The Workforce Development Institute, a 45,000 square-foot building costing about $16 million, is slated for completion in October and will house the college's auto body, auto technology, diesel technology and construction trades programs along with the fitness and wellness center as well as space for Heartland Technical Academy students. Equipment will start to be hauled into the building in July.

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Beyond the kitchen