A group of about 25 UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management student volunteers are taking their skills on the road to staff and run their own food and beverage booth at Bacchus Bash 2014 on Friday. This annual charitable event, organized by the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association, is an outdoor street party featuring over 70 food, beverage and entertainment booths that expects around 25,000 attendees.
While students have volunteered for the event in the past, this is the first year they get to be part of the action, from food prep to set up to serving and customer service.
So what’s on the menu for Bacchus Bash? The Rosen College booth will offer a red and white wine gelee, chocolate truffles and stilton cheese marinated in a ruby port. Professors also taught students how to carve ice for the event, transforming a large ice block into a gleaming pineapple to adorn the booth.
“This is an amazing opportunity for students to learn and experience what it’s like to run a food and beverage operation in a high pressure setting like a live event,” said Dr. Cynthia Mejia, an assistant professor in the Foodservice and Lodging Management department at Rosen College. “This is where the skills we teach them in class come to life.”
Bacchus Bash will take place Friday, April 4 from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Orlando Premium Outlets on Vineland Ave. The students’ booth will be located near the Coach store. Admission and parking are free. Proceeds from food and beverage sales benefit scholarships for local schools, including Rosen College.