Date: Fri 13-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Backdoor-Cafe-schools-chefs

Full Text:

Bon Appetit! Back Door Bistro Chefs Invite Parents To Dinner

(with photos)

BY DOROTHY EVANS

Newtown High's Back Door Cafe Class of 1997 recently celebrated a successful

year spent working together to serve breakfast and lunch to many town and

school community customers.

To mark the occasion, they held a Parents' Night Dinner on Monday, June 2, in

the small, self-contained dining room and kitchen area that is tucked behind

the middle school, just off Queen Street.

The dinner theme was French and the cuisine was, well, Merveilleuse! - meaning

simply wonderful.

Wearing their brand new white chef's hats and jackets, the nine students

sliced and diced and cooked up a storm, presenting a four course meal with

menu items that must have severely challenged any guest on a weight loss diet.

How, for instance, could a person possibly choose between Jim's (Collier)

White Mousse and Tiffany's (Thomas) Dessert Crepe with Strawberries? Or rule

out such tempting menu entrees as Todd's (Durand) Broccoli Crepes, Chris's

(Aylward) Quiche Diane or John's (Cote) Boeuf Bourguignon.

Impossible!

Better to order one of each. But of course, none of the 21 guests actually did

that, although several might have wished to.

Five Years And Going Strong

As described by Back Door Program Director Dru Saren, the culinary evening

represented a cumulative project, a final exam and a way to honor the nine

students and their parents.

The students in the 1997 class were Anna Bambino, Chris Aylward, Todd Durand,

John Cote, Tiffany Thomas, Kim Vasilescu, David Hadden, Katie Tarsis and Jim

Collier.

The Back Door Cafe program was established five years ago and is a

self-supporting, for-credit course that is available to any student who needs

what Mrs Saren called, a "break from the traditional classroom routine."

In that small group, supportive environment, many students will truly thrive,

she said.

"This is their night to shine," Mrs Saren commented from the kitchen, while

helping direct the table servers and keeping track of food preparation.

Without necessarily trying to, Mrs Saren and co-director Gloria Arsenian acted

as perfect complements to each other while the dinner was going on, helping

the students prepare and serve the many dishes.

"She's the energetic one, the doer who urges the kids on. I'm more calm and

laid back," said Mrs Arsenian.

On this special evening, "too many cooks" definitely didn't spoil the pot.

A Little Help From Their Friends

Newtown High Special Education Department Chair Paulette Cavanaugh, who had

joined Superintendent John Reed and Pupil Personnel Services Director Robert

Chiappetta for the students' bistro dinner event, couldn't say enough about

the entire Back Door program.

"It's worked. Here the kids can be who they want to be. There is a solid work

ethic and a chance to gain self esteem - and the catering has really taken

off," Mrs Cavanaugh said.

"We get a lot of support from the administration," she added.

She was particularly proud of the new chefs' uniforms and hats, which were a

gift from Dorothy and Gordon Cavanaugh of Cornwall Bridge, in memory of

beloved school cafeteria worker Katie Pierwola.

Even the walls of the Back Door Cafe turned Bistro had been decorated in a

French theme, with Impressionistic paintings done by school art teacher Diane

Dutchick.

Hence the name for one of the evening's most popular selections, Quiche Diane.