Gourmet Cafeteria
The Gourmet Cafeteria was built as a means for the student body to practice their culinary skills. It serves the student body and faculty members of the Manhattan Academy for the Gifted. The facility will even be reserved for banquets and catered dinners for highly esteemed guests; this creates an ample opportunity for the student body to get the much needed precious experience required to exceed in the culinary field. The cafeteria has garnered quite the popular opinion among the public and is a regular tourist attraction.
The second floor facility is located in the Northwest Building of the Manhattan Academy for the Gifted's campus grounds. The entire second floor is dedicated to the cafeteria, the kitchen that operates it, and the means to open it to public access. This includes a separate set of stairs segregated from the student body's stairwell access, as well as a pseudo-lounge area for outside guests to sign-in at before entering the cafeteria proper.
Purpose / Function
The Gourmet Cafeteria was designed as an opportunity for the student body to display their culinary expertise while gathering precious experience required to succeed in the future.
Entries
There are two different primary entrances to the Gourmet Cafeteria; one of which is for the student body and leads back into the Northwest Building of the campus, the other is a direct access to the campus grounds and is intended for public access. It is sectioned off from the cafeteria by a lobby or guest area that acts as a barrier between the public and the student body.
The student body entrance is a set of double glass doors with a reinforced steel frame equipped with the standard campus defenses. The secondary public entrance is more of an ornate, decorative entrance with fine maple wood frame carved with intricate designs depicting classic superheroes like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor.
Sensory & Appearance
The Gourmet Cafeteria is designed in a similar manner as is the rest of the Academy; a post-modern architecture design with massive, floor to ceiling windows, asymmetrical designs, and an open concept interior. The room is constantly lit either from the day long sun that cascades in through the Northern windows or from the artificial UV lighting systems overhead, creating an orange glow through the day and a purple hue at night.
The Guest's Lobby is scented with citrus and pine to prevent guests' senses being spoiled before the meal. This palette cleanser is an artificial scent pumped in through the air units throughout the building.
Once inside the Gourmet Cafeteria, one's senses are overwhelmed with the day's cuisine; a sweet aroma of decadent desserts, rotisserie meats, and the world's finest ingredients emanates across the floor. The smell of charbroiled meats, sharp cheese and wines can often be smelt wafting through the cafeteria, originating from the semi-open kitchen concept as the staff prepares for a guests' banquet.
Denizens
Anna Ameyama helms the kitchen here acting as the Gourmet Cafeteria's head chef. Her sous-chef is Mélina Marie and her team includes three other chefs: Justin Lavigne, Becci McLaren, and Meri Valentina. During services, the Gourmet Cafeteria employs Javier Stone as a maître d'.
Contents & Furnishings
There is an abundant amount of floor space to allow for various configurations for seating arrangements during events. Otherwise, the Gourmet Cafeteria's chairs and tables are arranged in an open concept with little to no organization. Students are allowed to rearrange the seating as needed, but are encouraged to return the chairs and tables to a modicum of normality when done.
In the Southeast corner of the floor is a Salad Bar that is readily stocked with the world's finest greens and vegetables. There is a built-in sprinkler system designed to maintain the freshness of everything provided there. Microcosms of gardens are present that help replenish to stock when running low, creating an almost self-sustaining Salad Bar.
In the Southwest corner of the floor is a Sushi Bar that serves as a source of entertainment along with the meal. Anna Ameyama typically helms the shows during public events, otherwise Meri Valentina practices her skills regularly. The bar is positioned central to the seating area allowing individuals to be seated around the bar at every degree. It is segregated from the cafeteria's kitchen, but has its own separate entrance into the kitchen that is located nearby.
Alterations
With the success Anna Ameyama brought to the Gourmet Cafeteria, alterations were made to accommodate the general public. The main purpose of the renovations were to provide a separate access for the public to segregate them (for security purposes) from the student body.
An outside stairwell was constructed that facilitated that need. In addition, a portion of the Gourmet Cafeteria was renovated and provided a greeting area for guests. There is a sign-in desk there with an ornate, leather bound book for individuals to sign. Furthermore, there are four leather couches that match the darkened décor.
History
Constructed shortly after the doors to the Main Campus opened, the Gourmet Cafeteria (and subsequently the Northwest Building) began construction in early 2022. A need to facilitate an influx in students and faculty members forced the decision to create a secondary cafeteria; the desire to harbor the culinary talents of the academy's school populace is what allowed it to thrive.
It was during the attention the academy received for its first class of graduates that Anna Ameyama decided to leave Stark Tech Enterprises' employment and seek employment with the Manhattan Academy for the Gifted. She was granted a supervisionary position within the academy where she eventually helmed the success of and prestige the Gourmet Cafeteria has garnered over its two decades in existence.
Today, the cafeteria serves as a high-end restaurant to reserved clientele while still providing the student body an opportunity to learn. When not reserved for private affairs, the cafeteria helps serve the ravenous student populace.
Tourism
The Gourmet Cafeteria holds some of the more prestigious clientele in New York as well as celebrities, corporate bigwigs, and privileged individuals capable of affording the high meal ticket. As sought after as the quality of meals are, individuals are as equally excited to potentially rub shoulders with tomorrow's superheroes.
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