Students Help Convention Centre Provide Foodservice for Canada Games
Athletes will not be the only ones putting their training to the test next month at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.
About 20 Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) students will join the World Trade and Convention Centre (WTCC) culinary team to feed athletes and support staff during the Games.
They will help prepare and serve an estimated 25,000 chicken breasts, 3,900 kilograms of pasta and 8,000 litres of soup.
"The Canada Winter Games will be the largest sporting event held in Halifax and the volume of food prepared and served will be the largest production in the WTCC's 27-year history," said the convention centre's executive chef Christophe Luzeux. "This is a unique opportunity to expose culinary students to the preparation and consideration that goes into delivering a high-quality food experience to thousands of guests."
Under the guidance of Mr. Luzeux's expert in-house team, NSCC Culinary Arts students will learn hands-on how large-volume food production works. This experience will help students meet their service-learning requirement.
"To work as part of a professional team preparing tens of thousands of meals while I am still a student is an amazing opportunity," says Tim Webber, a second-year Culinary Arts student at the Akerley Campus. "It will be interesting to see how we will keep such a large group satisfied with the food we prepare over a two week period."
During the Games, the convention centre will prepare and serve about 70,000 meals for 1,500 athletes and support staff three times daily. The kitchen will operate 24 hours a day, offering foodservice in the grand ballroom from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. A full grazing menu will also be offered so athletes have constant access to food and Exhibition Park will provide cold-meal lunch options for athletes travelling outside the Halifax core.
Pasta, pizza and protein will headline the menu, which will offer a number of options, including vegetarian and special dietary selections.
NSCC Culinary Arts students will get their first opportunity to learn the ropes Thursday, Feb. 10, during an orientation session.