"Well done, students!"

When you think fine dining, you might picture elegant surroundings, delectable food, and culinary professionals. Well, I had that very experience right here in the small town of Milton. 

Recently, I attended my first luncheon as part of an association of community individuals composed of education and business leaders coming together to collaborate on connecting career resources with our education.

As part of these meetings and presentations the group received a treat — a fabulous lunch catered by Locklin Technical College’s very own Culinary Arts program. These high school and college students not only prepared but plated and served the meal to total strangers with such professionalism, you would never have known that it was their first time catering a luncheon. The students were timely, efficient, courteous and organized making sure every person was comfortable and happy.

For the meal, the students wowed us with a delicious three-course meal. To begin, they treated us with tomato bisque. Next, they served an apple cider vinegar salad and ham quiche. We had raspberry cheesecake for dessert.

While enjoying the lunch, I watched the students serve and take care of the guests. I was in amazement at the expertise these young culinary professionals possessed. Yes, I use the term 'professionals' because that is exactly what and how they acted.

After lunch, I was so impressed with the students that I had to go and compliment their great work to their teacher, Paulette Martin and the college’s principal Maria LaDouceur. Both told me how proud they were of the students and how hard the class had worked preparing for the day.  

As a former educator, I was always proud of my students when they worked hard to succeed on a presentation or a project. I know the culinary students at Locklin strived to ensure this luncheon would be a success and it was just that. Their teacher and principal should be very proud of them and all their hard work. Well done, students!

I know I will be looking forward to the next luncheon Locklin Tech Culinary Arts caters.  

Kevin Boyer is a reporter with the Santa Rosa Press Gazette. You can reach him at 850-623-2120 or kboyer@srpressgazette.com.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: "Well done, students!"