Student-run restaurant, cake shop started

Two ventures – ‘MOB or Ministry Of Bakery’ (a student-run cake shop) and Classic Café (a student-run restaurant), as part of entrepreneurship activities – were launched by Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA) on Friday.

K Thirugnanasambantham, WGSHA principal and chef, said these initiatives for the students were launched in association with Fortune Inn Valley View. He added that Classic Cafe is a venture that helps students understand on a real time, hands-on basis as well the intricacies of restaurant management at an early stage.

“Students are entrusted with vital roles from marketing to menu planning and table layout. They are also exposed to different cuisines from the regional to Pan-Asian cuisines and more. They are also sensitised about pricing and portioning along with food costing and this will positively assist them in their futures, especially those with an interest in entrepreneurship,” he explained.

The college had introduced a bake shop under the name, ‘MOB- Ministry Of Bakery.’ The shop stocks a wide variety of pastries, cakes, breakfast viennoiserie, cookies and savouries. Just like Classic Cafe, the bake shop is run completely by students, which gives them a rare insight into how to order, prepare and fix price for bakery goods. The mouth-watering cakes will also be marketed and sold by the students.

Another upcoming venture is ‘Gourmet Store’, a store selling artisan breads, preserves, pickles, jams and sauces. The idea of this store is to teach students how to highlight and preserve the best, seasonal local produce. When local food is grabbing the limelight, it is crucial for the current generation of culinary graduates to be well versed in the art of preserving, the principal added.

He also said the college has plans to launch a food truck in the future. This will give students a look into fast food and trendy cooking apart from the ordering, preparing ad pricing aspects. This will also make them understand the different levels of licensing for prospective entrepreneurs.

He said with entrepreneurship becoming a viable career for the future generation of hospitality graduates, ITC and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) worked closely on establishing the ‘Welcomgroup Entrepreneurial Development Cell’. ITC will contribute Rs 10 lakh as seed money, he added.