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MAR.7, 2025 – MONCTON, NB: From March 4–6, students from New Brunswick Community College’s (¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ) Culinary Arts Management and Hotel & Restaurant Management programs teamed up to transform the Moncton Campus kitchen into seven buzzing pop-up restaurants for Street Food Fest (formerly Food Truck Week). This annual event, and a key part of their grade, welcomed hundreds of local food enthusiasts to an exclusive taste of New Brunswick’s emerging food scene, featuring dishes with locally sourced ingredients. As a result, this immersive, real-world learning opportunity equips ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ’s students with the skills needed to thrive in the hospitality and tourism industry.

“This experiential learning project mirrors the high-energy environment our students will encounter in the workplace,” said Jason Blonde, Coordinating Instructor for Hotel and Restaurant Management at ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ. “From food prep to customer service, marketing, and with the added richness of cross-disciplinary collaboration—they applied everything they learned to create an unforgettable dining experience.”

Over the course of three days, students were evaluated as they set up stations in the campus kitchen, replicating the conditions of a restaurant and serving as many guests as possible, as quickly as possible. As part of their assessment, teams were responsible for developing creative menus featuring mouthwatering dishes made with locally sourced ingredients in partnership with Savour NB, as well as marketing their pop-up restaurants to attract customers before the event.  As a result of their efforts, food lovers lined up each day to try something new, such as sizzling Shawarma Wraps infused with Crosby Molasses sauces, decadent Seafood-Stuffed Baked Potatoes featuring Ferme Les Digues potatoes, and more!  

“It doesn’t get more real than this,” said Blonde. “Students interacting with actual customers—people they may serve again once employed. Experiential learning is part of our education that works and one of the reasons why employers love to hire our ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ graduates.”

"The entire experience has been nothing short of exceptional,” shared Josephine Areghan, Hotel & Restaurant Management Student at ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ. “The fest didn’t just begin when we opened our doors to the public—it started from the moment we conceptualized our brand name, crafted our recipes, identified our target audience, and partnered with local food suppliers. Beyond just serving food, this experience reinforced a vital lesson: having an idea is one thing, but understanding the foundations of customer service, teamwork, communication, and marketing is essential for building a sustainable and profitable business in the long run.”

Adding to the excitement, local social media sensation and ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ alumnus, Chef Thomson, joined as a special guest judge, offering feedback and bringing his signature energy.

Once again, Street Food Fest proved to be a community favourite. Through events like this, ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ continues to prepare students for success, equipping them with the skills and confidence to make a lasting impact in industries like hospitality and tourism, in New Brunswick, and beyond.

For more information on ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ’s Hospitality and Tourism programs, visit nbcc.ca.
 

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Strategic Communications Team, ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ
communications@nbcc.ca

ABOUT ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ:

As one of New Brunswick’s largest postsecondary education institutions, ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ drives social and economic wellbeing across the province. ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ welcomes more than 12,000 learners each year through quality-assured, relevant training opportunities. ¾Ã¾ÃÊÓƵ is committed to accelerating skills development, innovating educational delivery, and reaching unprecedented numbers of New Brunswickers. Find out more at: .