The yearly grand opening of the Eliot Street Café, located at the Career Education Center at 26th and Eliot Street, will be held Friday, Sept. 13. A Mexican buffet lunch will be served from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. For only $5.95, restaurant goers can choose from a wide array of gourmet fare. The restaurant is open to the public.

The Culinary Arts students have been working hard since school started, and this will be the first time for many of them to demonstrate what they are learning.

The Culinary Arts Program is one of the 21 programs offered at the award-winning Fred N. Thomas Career Education Center. About 700 students attend the CEC part-time from their Denver area high schools. The Culinary Arts program teaches students baking, quantity food preparation, customer service and restaurant management.

Professionals in their fields teach the career programs at CEC. Program choices are Architectural Drafting, Athletic Training, Audio Engineering, Auto Body, Auto Mechanics, Business, CISCO networking, Commercial Art, Construction, Criminal Justice/Police Science, Culinary Arts, Digital Film Production, Early Childhood and Elementary Education Careers, Electrical, Fashion Careers and Clothing Design, Fire Science, Fitness Trainer, Keyboard Musicianship.

The opening day menu at the Eliot Street Café is:

Appetizers
Ceviche with Shrimp, Scallops and Rockfish Served with Tortilla Chips
Southwestern Egg Roll with Pico de Gallo and Guacamole

Salads
Tex-Mex Cactus Salad
Orange Avocado Salad

Entrees
Baja Fish Tacos with Salsa Verde
Chili Rubbed Chicken with Chipotle Pineapple Salsa
Shrimp Enchiladas with Tomatillo Apple Salsa

Sides
Chili Corn Bake
Spanish Rice

Desserts
Chocolate Tacos with Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse
Fruit Chimichangas with Cinnamon Custard Sauce
Mexican Chocolate Cake