Café Lacumba opens its doors again

Lunch will be served again.
The Southern University Family and Consumer Sciences Department has re-opened Café Lacumba, a one day a week restaurant serving meals between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Wednesday.
Created by the Human Nutrition and Food Program, the non-profit, 50 seat learning laboratory emphasizes education while providing meal service to faculty, staff and students.
According to officials, dietetic interns assume responsibility for managing the facility as the food service management students plan, prepare and serve the lunches.
The program is spearheaded by Bernestine Mc Gee, professor and program director, Martha Toussant, adjunct professor of field experience and Cheryl Atkinson, associate professor and experience coordinator.
Coordinators said the project is designed to strengthen and expand the food and nutrition program through experimental learning opportunities in community nutrition and food management.
“This type of program allows for healthy improvement among high-risk population groups,” said Celia Jackson, a dietetic intern at Southern. “The curriculum teaches us how to implement healthy enhancements in our clients diets which offer a better quality of life.”
According to the core objective of the program, there is an increasing demand for nutritional change in the habits of the African-American Community. As a result, this curriculum promotes health and disease prevention in the community.
Mc Gee’s expertise was utilized to create a menu that can be considered “Heart Healthy.” The items selected are low in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.
All aspects of operation were considered before opening Café Lacumba such as facility décor, equipment needs, customer satisfaction, safety and sanitation.
In relation to the overall concept, Jackson said the program will equip the Human Food and Nutrition graduates with the knowledge to apply food management principles and concepts to manage the facility such as hospitals, schools and non-profit organizations.