Just Recently, the Gourmet Foods students spent their day cooking for their parents and friends to show the skills they gained during the semester-long class. Everything was made by students in “the restaurant,” named Thyme and Co. The students not only focus on the homemade food they prepared, but they also paid attention to the ambiance and service of their restaurant held in room 259. Families paid a fee of $15 to attend the lunch. We rated the restaurant on three categories: food, service, and ambiance. 

Food: 4.5 out of 5 stars

   In addition to the chosen entree and dessert, every customer was given a Caesar salad with homemade Caesar dressing and croutons. The salad was perfectly seasoned and even had Parmesan shavings to top it off. In addition, each table had a homemade baguette that the class prepared the day before. The bread was served with regular butter and homemade Gorgonzola butter. It was soft and airy on the inside but surrounded by a crunchy exterior. The Gorgonzola butter perfectly complemented the French baguette. 

   The parents choose between three entrees. All three were well cooked and delicious. The Caribbean rice was slightly sweet from the bell peppers, an odd taste to have in rice with the breaded chicken. The steak was cooked very well and had a great flavor, especially when eaten with mashed potatoes and herb butter that topped the meat. The veggie pasta was not as flavorful as the other dishes, but when eaten with some of the Marina sauce that coated the plate, it made for a delicious meal. Most of the entrees were served room temperature because it was prepared starting the morning of, but it was still tasty; although, it would have been even better warm. Some dishes needed a bit of salt, but it was provided on the table, so one could salt to taste. 

   The dessert was delicious, with three choices of a flourless chocolate torte, cinnamon swirl cheesecake, and blackberry pear pie; my favorite was the chocolate torte. All of the desserts were baked well, but the richness of the chocolate torte and slight almond flavoring from the almond extract gave the torte a delicious taste, while the removal of the flour gave it a smooth and thick texture. The pie was a bit crunchy from the pears, but still had a delectable crust and crumble topping. Overall, the food served at Thyme and Co. was extremely delicious and definitely worth the $15 for a three course meal. 

Ambiance: 4.5 out of 5 stars

   When walking into the restaurant, it did not feel like the same old fashion classroom. The lights were dimmed, string lights were on the walls and the tables were beautifully decorated. Chalkboards with puns were placed on each table with a burlap leaf and plaid place mat, for an autumn aesthetic. The fireplace on the wall also added a warm vibe for the restaurant. 

Service: 5 out of 5 stars

   The service was incredible. There are multiple waiters and waitresses who serve you throughout the entire meal. The servers were constantly bringing out new food as it was being prepared in the kitchen. We never had to wait for more than three minutes to get a new course of food. Not only were the waiters constantly bringing us food in a timely manner but, they were very cordial, which made our dining experience a whole lot more pleasant than most other restaurants. All in all, the service was impeccable.