Now this has to be one of the best kept secrets in the area.  There is a restaurant at Allen High School that is staffed by the hospitality and culinary arts students.  Yes, high school seniors are learning the skills needed to work in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

The name of the restaurant is Blu’  – a student run community bistro, and it is so much fun to go there. Oh, and did I mention  –  the food is good.

This is how the program is explained on the menu:

Blu is a capstone classroom experience where senior hospitality and culinary arts students learn the many facets of the restaurant business. The kitchen and dining room employees are developing their skills in teamwork, food preparation, customer service, business management, and professionalism.

Everyone we encountered from the hostesses to the waiters were pleasant and professional.

Minetta and I both ordered a cup of the Blu Tortilla Soup ($2.00)  Duh!  Forgot to take the picture before beginning to eat.  The soup was very tasty.  

Minetta got the Angus Burger ($6.00).  She declared it delicious.  The bacon was fried crisp like she likes it, and the chipotle BBQ sauce added a nice touch.  The burger also had grilled onions which is a big plus for me.  The presentation was wonderful.  Loved the shot glass filled with catsup.  The fries could have been a little crispier, but they would get a good rating.  Aren’t the French fries cute in the silver cup?

The Spinach Salad ($3.00) was wonderful.  Spinach, dried cherries, pecans, blue cheese, and Granny Smith apples with the balsamic dressing in that little shot glass.  What a deal!  (FYI: You can add chicken to the salads or soups for $3.00 more.)

Of course, we had to order desserts – for research.

Minetta’s Ricotta Gelato with Chocolate Sauce ($3.00) was so smooth.  It was somewhat thick with lemon zest as a garnish.  Yummy! – especially when you add the chocolate sauce.

This is the Brown Butter Cake with Fruit Compote ($3.00).  Love, love, love this presentation.  The cake was excellent.  It was so moist and delicious.  The sauce was a little grainy (maybe it was meant to be like that), but still good.  The whipped cream and sautéed apples were such a nice touch that put this dessert over the top..

This was the Chicken Fried Steak ($7.00) that was served to a table near ours.  I had to take this picture from afar – but… that is what you do when you are a restaurant blogger.   A lot of people (who appeared to know what to order at Blu) ordered this.  It does look fantastic, and I am here to tell you – the people who ordered Chicken Fried Steak seemed happy as they gobbled it down.

Be still my heart!  The fall display around the cash register was beautiful.

The restaurant is gorgeous, and everyone who helped us did a fantastic job.

Thank you so very much Minetta.  Enjoyed being with you, and dining at Blu.

Blessings to you and yours,

Blu is located next to the Performing Arts Center of Allen High School.  It is open for lunch Wednesdays – Fridays.  If you get a chance, I encourage to dine at Blu.  You won’t be sorry.