After months of planning and preparing for operations under the new guidelines for restaurants, The Culinary Institute of Canada (CIC) is ready to welcome the public again.

Chef Austin Clement, program manager for Holland College’s culinary and hospitality programs, said the adjustments the culinary institute has made reflect the new procedures and protocols that restaurants are required to implement.

“After a delayed start to our programs, we are delighted to welcome back our guests. All of our food is prepared and presented by our students and their interactions with public are an important part of their training. Students are being prepared to work under the new realities of the hospitality industry. By the time they graduate, they will be ready to enter the current workforce,” he said.

The Dining Room opened today for lunch, and will start serving dinner tomorrow, February 5. The CIC will launch Dining Room To Go take-out service on Tuesday, February 9. Guests will be able to order ahead between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. for lunch or between 6 and 8 p.m. for dinner. Additionally, the CIC’s new Too Tired to Cook weeknight menu will offer hot and ready take-out meals with curbside delivery Tuesday to Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. starting on Tuesday, March 2.

The Grab & Go onsite market, located in the lobby of the Tourism and Culinary Centre, is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday with a selection of products including artisan breads, pastries, salads, soups, and butchery items. On March 2, the Grab & Go will also feature Time Savours, ready-made reheat-to-eat meals.

For more information about the new menus and take-out service, call 902-894-6868 or email cic@hollandcollege.com.

In this picture: Auhlicia Sands, a second-year student in the International Hospitality Management program, greets a visitor to the newly reopened Dining Room of The Culinary Institute of Canada.