Tempting new menu as Desert Lantern opens doors

Charles Darwin University’s fine dining training restaurant in Alice Springs will open to the public next week for the first time this year.

Hospitality lecturer Nick de Silva said the Desert Lantern would open its doors mainly on Wednesday and Thursday evenings (and occasionally on a Tuesday) to provide hospitality students with their first taste of a “real deal” restaurant.

“We will serve a fabulous three-course dinner featuring a new menu of entrees, mains and desserts,” Mr de Silva said.

“We change the menu on a weekly basis, but for the main course next week, clients will have the choice of a pork cutlet dish, a beef rib dish or pan seared barramundi.”

The hospitality course has once again proven popular with vocational education and training students from the three urban secondary schools.

“About 100 students have enrolled in the hospitality and bar tending courses and a further 20 in kitchen operations, where they will help with food preparation for the restaurant.”

Mr de Silva said the training restaurant could accommodate a maximum of 80 diners on each of the 18 select operating evenings during semester one.

“We are looking forward to the restaurant season with a lot of confidence and particularly following the success of two degustation dinner nights hosted this week for industry guests.

“Our kitchen maestros Mark Bizley and Hayley Tobin prepared seven sumptuous courses with the support of several kitchen operations students.

“There was a lot of positive feedback.”

Mr de Silva said the Desert Lantern provided hospitality students with an ideal environment to develop practical skills, valuable knowledge and confidence.

“Graduates will receive a qualification that will give them a head-start in finding a job.”

Mr de Silva said the public could make bookings by phoning 8959 5200. The 2015 restaurant calendar and details: W. cdu.edu.au/sites/default/files/cdu-vet/docs/desert-lantern-restaurant-brochure.pdf