Critique at santiam restraunt is coming this week.

Culinary student Tim Maine serves Dean of Instruction Gary Ruppert at Linn- Benton Community College's Santiam Restaurant on April 2. The restaurant is supported by LBCC's Culinary Arts Program.


Main course: A Club salmon sandwich with portabella mushrooms and spinach served with an assortment of grilled onions, fresh pears, and lotus root.
This was simply amazing. the combination incredible. I had never tried lotus root before and it just melted in my mouth, perfectly fried.

This soup was so so tasty! Fresh carrots cooked and puree' with a hint of ginger, topped with long shavings of sweet baked carrot.


The Appetizer: The presentation is lovely. The taste mmm mmm mmm. Tender mouth watering morsels with a nice balance of lemon and oregano


There is nothing liked being treated like a queen. That was my expectation when I arrived at the Santiam Restaurant on April 2Nd 2009. Laurie Chang the hostess and instructor, greeted me at the entrance, and I was seated at a window table with a lovely spring view of the campus. Tim Maine was my waiter dressed in black slacks with a nicely pressed white shirt and black bow tie. He introduced him self and gave me a verbal account of the specials for the day. I was impressed by the selection of Entrees that are all served with your choice of soup or salad and included a balanced protein,vegetable and carbohydrate meal for only eight dollars and fifty cents. There were appetizers for only two dollars and fifty cents and deserts for two seventy five.The Culinary Program is based on classical French and European cuisine also featuring Asian, vegetarian and a artistic blending of ethnic cuisines are available on a menu that changes daily.

I was surprised at how many people filled up this little place. Especially since there is no advertising. I could not find it any where listed on the L.B.C.C. website. You really have to call in to find out what is on the menu for the day and get a reservation. The food was excellent as you can see in the pictures and read in the captions. The service was slow and the Dean of L.B.C.C. and his guests did get preferential treatment. This is probably why My meal did not show up until they were served ,even though I did arrive there before them, and Tim had my order, but ,he happened to be there server as well. So much for equality, hey, we each do the best that we can. I had to ask my self if I were Tim what would I have done? maybe he had thoughts similar to these; I'm young, I've never done this before, I don't want to make a mistake, the Dean is a very important man, I don't really no who that woman is that just placed an order, big question who can make a difference in my success? Bottom line I took advantage of the moment being a student in journalism and I shot some great pictures while I waited for my lunch, one of them is of Tim serving the Dean and that one landed me my first photo in the school newspaper. All good things do come to those who wait. I partook of it all, gourmet food, photo's and sharing the experience with you. by The Lady Knightress of the Pen