Beginning January 22, Conestoga’s student-run Bloom restaurant will launch another term of service. An interactive live classroom, Bloom is located within Conestoga’s School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts at the college’s Waterloo campus and welcomes paying guests for lunch and dinner service.
In addition to sit-down meals, Bloom also functions as a café with offerings ranging from takeaway meals to coffee and fresh pastries, and charcuterie items.
“Demand for reservations often exceeds availability, as the word about Bloom continues to spread throughout Conestoga as well as the broader community,” said Dan McCowan, Bloom’s executive chef.
“We value the opportunity that Bloom provides to put our students’ learning into action. From cooking and expediting dishes in a fast-paced environment, to service and business management skills, Bloom really showcases what our students are capable of while offering hands-on learning in a real-world environment.”
Bloom will launch its new menu for the winter term, which is patterned on a classroom-first approach and based on current curriculum. McCowan also noted the restaurant strives to ensure anything usable from the laboratory classroom setting is presented on the menu and not wasted. This ties in with Bloom’s focus on sustainability, which includes initiatives such as reducing food waste and minimizing single-use containers.
Bloom’s operating hours coincide with student learning schedules and availability. This winter, lunch and dinner seatings will be available Monday through Friday, except for Tuesday lunches. To make reservations, visit Bloomatconestoga.ca.
In addition to sit-down meals, Bloom also functions as a café and retail store which is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Its offerings range from takeaway meals to coffee and fresh pastries, and charcuterie items such as cured meat and pickles. All items for sale are made by students as part of their daily lessons.
Conestoga’s School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts is a leader in culinary and hospitality programming that prepares students for successful careers in Canada’s tourism industry. In addition to being the home of Bloom, the Waterloo campus also features state-of-the-art culinary skills labs.