This week, our Year 11 and Year 12 Hospitality students proudly hosted Restaurant Week – an outstanding event that transformed PBC’s Trade Training Centre into a fully functioning restaurant.
Over two evenings, guests were treated to a fine dining experience that highlighted the students’ skills in food preparation, service, and event management.
The evenings began with canapés served on arrival, including house-cured gin and beetroot salmon on macarons, feta, walnut and honey filo parcels, and onion fritters with mayonnaise. Guests were then seated and attentively served by front-of-house students, who managed every aspect of the dining experience, from welcoming and taking orders to delivering meals with professionalism and care.
In the kitchen, another team of students worked tirelessly to prepare, cook, and plate a three-course menu of exceptional quality. Starters featured dishes such as spicy coconut lime curry with crispy marinated tofu, duck tortellini with pumpkin purée and chilli-chocolate jus, and confit chicken with mint and feta sa
lad. For mains, diners enjoyed jerk-spiced fish with cornbread fritters, roasted beef with herb béarnaise and horseradish mash, or a chargrilled vegetable stack with enoki mushrooms and green goddess dressing.
The dessert menu was equally impressive, featuring upside-down spiced pineapple cake with cashew nut ice cream, a trio of brownies, and Yodying’s taro cake with tropical fruit salsa.
The atmosphere was elevated by live background music from PBC Music Excellence students, creating the perfect accompaniment to the dining experience.
Restaurant Week was not only a chance for students to demonstrate the technical skills they have honed throughout their studies, but also an opportunity to gain invaluable real-world experience. The full house across both evenings and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests reflected the professionalism, dedication, and teamwork on display.
This achievement would not have been possible without the guidance and expertise of the Hospitality teaching team: Mrs Tracey Maher, Mr Michael Rambold, Ms Alysha Dufty, Ms Tracey McDonald, and Mr Timm Hayer. Their support and mentorship empowered students to step confidently into their roles and deliver a professional event of the highest standard.
Restaurant Week has become a highlight of the school calendar, and this year’s success reaffirmed the talent, passion, and future potential of our Hospitality students. It was a true celebration of learning in action, with students proving that they are more than capable of rising to the challenge of working in a professional restaurant environment.