J-1 Interns Graduation: Dinner & Practical Exam

Description

Using the knowledge and education that we have acquired throughout the year at CCLR, we meet and assign tasks to each intern. We complete cost sheets for each menu item, prep lists and pull sheets for purchasing. We hold several meetings to organize thoughts, taste through menu ideas and keep each intern on task. Each intern is tasked to prepare a famous dish from their country. We invite coworkers from every department to join us in celebration. The guests of honor are always our members and board of governors. We showcase our talent and what we have mastered throughout our internship. We display as a team the leadership skills in culinary, event planning, costs controls and food and beverage management as a whole. We create a menu that reflects each of our unique cultures and popular dishes from our homelands. We have five countries contributing to one festive night; Philippines, Zimbabwe,South Africa, Jamaica and India. We believe people who “Eat together, Stays Together”. Food has a way of bringing diversity of people together, this dinner allows the employees of CCLR to experience different types of foods that our international staff has prepared.

Implementation

The J-1 interns host an International Dinner twice a year, as a final practical exam to showcase their talent and leadership while displaying skills learned throughout their entire training. Invited guests include fellow CCLR Staff Members, CCLR Board of Governors and their spouses. Each dinner has centered around the culture and cuisine of the respective intern’s countries. This particular group comprised of all Filipinos, determined an event theme of “An Early Christmas Party”. Keeping with their culture, the Philippines has an exceptional tradition of celebrating the Christmas Season September 1st to the Feast of the Epiphany January 6th. Together the team of J-1 interns worked hand in hand from conceptualization, preparation of theme, budget, guest lists, invitations, décor, and cuisine and beverages through organizing the program and service the night of the event with minimum guidance from management. It is a great opportunity to showcase their skills and what they have learned through their experience at CCLR. During the event, each intern had their designated duties for the evening which included but was not limited to, banquet captains, greeters, bartenders, servers, emcees, chefs, and clean-up crew.