Tasty samples transport patrons to students' fanciful locales
Monday, September 18, 2023
Photos by Jennifer A. Cline, writer/magazine editor
Students in the Bakery Operations & Product Development class hosted a trade show in Le Jeune Chef Restaurant on Friday, pulling together the skills they’ve learned throughout their baking & pastry arts coursework. In the class, taught by Chef Todd M. Keeley, assistant professor of baking and pastry/culinary, the students design a business, including marketing materials, sample menus and costing.
They also incorporated skills from the Information, Technology & Society course to include digital displays in their trade show “booths” – plus, of course, product samples and a heaping helping of customer interaction. Most of the students are in their final semester of baking & pastry arts coursework.
![Emily E.R. Kohen, of Mill Hall, shares samples from her Black Cat Sweetery menu, including matcha cream puffs and glazed hazelnuts.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20004.jpg?itok=JvTW6AFl)
![Jalen J.L. Stunkard, of New Fairfield, Conn., talks about the offerings from Cookie Crush Café, where his menu would include a rotating selection of specialty cookies.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20008.jpg?itok=WV75Mn2j)
![Stunkard’s offerings for Friday: mint chocolate chip and salted caramel cookies. (Plus red velvet, not shown.)](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20014.jpg?itok=UoUrTKog)
![Amber R. Harris, of Sciota, shares a menu for Spooky Sweets, a gluten-free concept she would open in Salem, Mass. (the town famous for its 17th-century witchcraft trials).](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20019.jpg?itok=E7HetXvj)
![A sample of products – and product packaging – from M.J. Harbron’s Bebop Fusion. The bakery would be located in Louisiana and would offer a Chinese-Southern fusion. Harbron is from Pottstown.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20029.jpg?itok=GuXllxOI)
![Autumn B. Stanley, of Lincoln University, interacts with a visitor. Her Autumn Breeze Café shares such treats as white chocolate pumpkin cookies, sweet potato cupcakes, and pecan praline cheesecake.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20033.jpg?itok=XMq2dHwc)
![ancaster’s Sweet Treats – developed by Lancaster native Destiny Y. Martinez – offers lemon-raspberry tarts and (in background) tres leches cupcakes that come with a pipette of milk to squeeze into the cake before eating.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20053.jpg?itok=nMRPZLuS)
![Sydney L. Mahoney, of Roaring Spring, presents Cool Cats Café, with rainbow bagels, strawberry cheesecake cookies, and chocolate cake with whipped cream and cherry pie filling.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20057.jpg?itok=ChtGxqBG)
![Daisy’s Café, a concept developed by Sofie E. Howard, of South Williamsport, provides samples of croissants, cream puffs, and chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel and coffee buttercream.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20084.jpg?itok=utuvw2Nu)
![Chloe M. Harris, of Williamsport, interacts with a long line of customers, offering cinnamon waffles, sweet potato cookies and toasted marshmallow ice cream from her Whisked Away Café and Bakery.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2023-09/Hosp%20Trade%20Show%20090.jpg?itok=Z8w9ABrT)