Café 91 is a student-run restaurant lab that is a part of the Culinary Arts program at Mt. San Antonio College.
"I think that it is a great way to bring restaurant training and hospitality management full circle so that you're practicing the skills that you get that theoretical training on," said culinary coordinator Chef Shelley Doonan.
"Café 91 is one of our capstone classes. Students coming out of for-profit culinary schools didn't really have what they needed to be successful. So, I wanted to give them curriculum and skills, and at least the theory where they could get in and climb that ladder faster," she added.
The food and service are part of the students' educational training.
"We're trying to instill in them that sense of urgency. Getting things done on time, making sure that we're meeting those timelines and making sure that we're able to open the doors and really serve that quality food to the guests," culinary instructor Chef Alex Carillo said.
"As long as we can sell and make the money in the restaurant, that can go to the classes and support some of the other classes that we have running here," he added.
"Luckily, we've been able to secure millions of dollars of funding annually through a strong workforce grant and through the state of California. Allowing students to get those real-world experiences so that they can utilize them to secure jobs and secure opportunities for themselves and their families," the Dean of Business at Mt. SAC, Michelle Sampat, said.
Students say the program really lets them do things their own way and allows them to try new recipes.
"I feel like it's kind of pushed me more to want to actually be in this field. And it's also cool to meet new people that also want to do the same thing as me," junior Chloe Macis said.
"That's one thing that I really want to instill in them-that confidence, to just continue learning and growing," Carillo said.