FVCC’s Culinary Institute of Montana Senior Class Serves Up Italian Lunch Fare at “Divina Trattoria”
Join the graduating class of Flathead Valley Community College’s Culinary Institute of Montana for lunch at their very own Italian-inspired lunch pop-up restaurant, Divina Trattoria. Beginning Wednesday, April 13, the restaurant will be open 11am-1:30pm for lunch guests every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout the month of April.
Located on the FVCC campus in the Arts & Technology building, hungry patrons can head downstairs to the instructional kitchen to order and enjoy on-site or pick up and take out the group’s entirely homemade menu of meals. Menu items include pastas, sandwiches, soups, salads, and delectable desserts.
“Our mission is to provide healthy, affordable meals while creating positive connections with the Kalispell community,” explains culinary student, Kyran Neer.
Neer and his fellow classmates created the idea of Divina Trattoria as their Culinary Capstone final project. Everything from the type of cuisine and restaurant name to business plan and marketing materials are all part of the capstone project that marks the culmination of the group’s FVCC culinary studies.
FVCC Culinary Arts Program Director Chef Manda Hudak says, “The Culinary Capstone class and final project allows students to put everything together they’ve learned over the course of the culinary program and share it with our community. It’s an important part of their education and really challenges each student to find inspiration and passion in their work.”
Passion for food and cooking comes from family for graduating culinarian, Avery George. “I grew up around cooking and have my family to thank for inspiring me today. My grandma specifically taught me about using food to show love–she really put the passion there for me,” George says.
In addition to delicious food, the senior class has decided to share the love through a food drive called, “Can for a Cookie.” Divina Trattoria guests can bring non-perishable food items, hygiene products, baby food and supplies and the like to donate to the FVCC Food Pantry available for students. In return, you’ll receive a free, freshly-baked Toll House chocolate chip cookie as a thanks for your donation.
The love, passion and hard work behind Divina Trattoria is apparent when speaking with any of the graduating class. Neer adds, “We are beyond excited to share this experience with our community and hope to see you in the kitchen to pick up some lunch to take with you or to dine in and watch us in action.”
Divina Trattoria is open 11am-1:30pm for lunch on April 13-15, 20-22, and 27-29. To order ahead for pick up, call/text (406) 897-0101 or email divina-trattoria@fvcc.edu, or come order and dine in at FVCC’s Arts & Technology building on campus.
Visit fvcc.edu/culinary to learn more about the Culinary Institute of Montana at FVCC.