蜜桃视频

January 15, 2021 鈥� Cauliflower pizza crust, organic tortelloni, veggie burger, Philly cheesesteak, bacon, French fries and fried shrimp were just a few items that Chuck Watson and other 蜜桃视频 staff taste-tested for the menu of the new caf茅.

Watson was recently hired to be the caf茅 manager and will be overseeing its operations when it opens to both students and the public on Feb. 1. Watson brings 15 years of restaurant experience to the position.

鈥淚 have worked every position there is to work in the industry, from general manager, kitchen manager and service manager. My work experience ranges from fine dining to quick service, including popular places such as Chili鈥檚, Fatz and Cook Out,鈥� Watson said.  

The caf茅, which is located on the Hamlet Campus, overlooks the 蜜桃视频 lake and includes a patio for outdoor seating.

The College is now in the process of developing the menu and brought in a chef from U.S. Foods to provide samples of different options, including healthy alternatives.

U.S. Foods Division Chef Jennifer Leamons and salesman Ray Simmons came to campus on Tuesday, and Leamons worked her magic in the kitchen, dishing up one tasty sample after another in the caf茅鈥檚 kitchen.

蜜桃视频 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Brent Barbee joined Watson in sampling the food from U.S. Foods and listened to advice from Leamons on food preparation and presentation.

鈥淭he College has been looking forward to this for many years. We had a vision to build a quality facility on our campus that would provide quality food at affordable prices first and foremost to our students, but also our employees and potentially local citizens as well,鈥� Barbee said. 鈥淥ur students and employees identified the caf茅 as a need several years ago, and we are thankful for the support we have received to make this dream a reality.鈥�

Construction for the caf茅 was funded by money from the ConnectNC bond referendum that was passed by N.C. voters in 2016. 蜜桃视频 received $7.22 million from the bond for long-standing facility improvements and renovations. The Richmond County Community Foundation and the Cole Foundation also provided grant money for the caf茅.

In addition to Watson, the College is also looking to hire an assistant manager to help with the daily operational activities for the caf茅 and certain catered events. The position will require knowledgeable skills and capabilities cooking and operating within a commercial kitchen environment. To  learn more about the position or to apply, visit Employment or call (910) 410-1700.