Del Mar College holds luncheon for Coastal Bend Restaurant Week kickoff

John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·2 min read

Del Mar College held a special luncheon at its Oso Creek Campus Thursday to kick off the third-annual Coastal Bend Restaurant Week.

Students of the college's culinary arts program prepared a Japanese-inspired meal, including pork katsu, potato mochi and soba noodles.

In a release, Coastal Bend Restaurant Week founder Mirza Mirely said the event is a great opportunity to celebrate the culinary diversity and excellence in the region. As well, it's a chance for diners to show their love for local restaurants that make Corpus Christi special.

Del Mar College culinary arts students prepare a Japanese-inspired meal at the institution's Oso Creek Campus Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.
Del Mar College culinary arts students prepare a Japanese-inspired meal at the institution's Oso Creek Campus Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.

"The next 10 days are a great time to experience the best of Corpus Christi and find amazing deals and delicious dishes at participating restaurants," Mirely said.

The event will take place Friday through Sunday, Oct. 1. Eighteen local restaurants will participate with specially curated, fixed-price menus set as low as $25.

Menus are online on coastalbendrestaurantweek.com.

A Del Mar College culinary arts student hands a plate of Japanese-inspired food to a guest at the institution's Oso Creek Campus Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.
A Del Mar College culinary arts student hands a plate of Japanese-inspired food to a guest at the institution's Oso Creek Campus Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.

Charles “Chip” Campbell Jr., Del Mar College's business administration and entrepreneurship department chair, said the luncheon is a great way to collaborate with local restaurants, the college and Coastal Bend Restaurant Week.

"It's a huge event celebrating and promoting the culinary arts and hospitality management industries in the area," Campbell said. "The idea was to bring in all these wonderful industry leaders to collaborate and watch the students practice their trade."

Raenor Burton-Parker, chief of operations at Ellison Helmsman Inc., pours some miso soup into a small bowl at Del Mar College's Oso Creek Campus Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.
Raenor Burton-Parker, chief of operations at Ellison Helmsman Inc., pours some miso soup into a small bowl at Del Mar College's Oso Creek Campus Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.

The luncheon was held at Del Mar College's new teaching restaurant. While it is not yet open to the general public, it does allow students to serve the college's faculty and peers every Thursday while practicing their trade.

"We're not at the capacity to be a full-blown restaurant because we don't want to interfere with their learning," Campbell said. "It will most likely happen in the future though, and we're looking forward to that."

Matcha-Strawberry cakes are placed for guests to enjoy at Del Mar College's Oso Creek Campus Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. The college hosted a luncheon for the Coastal Bend Restaurant Week kick-off.
Matcha-Strawberry cakes are placed for guests to enjoy at Del Mar College's Oso Creek Campus Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. The college hosted a luncheon for the Coastal Bend Restaurant Week kick-off.

Participating restaurants

  • Back Street Restaurant: 106 E. Borden St., Sinton

  • Bellino Ristorante Italiano E Bottega : 3815 S. Alameda St.

  • Blackbeard's on the Beach: 3117 Surfside Blvd.

  • Boarri Craft Meats & Goods: 817 S. Staples St.

  • Doc's Seafood and Steaks: 13309 S. Padre Island Drive

  • Dylan's Coal Oven Pizzeria: 128 Market St., Port Aransas

  • The Galley Bistro & Bake Shop: 924 S. Staples St.

  • Harrison's Landing: 108 Peoples St. T-Head

  • Lazy Beach Brewing: 7522 Bichon Drive

  • Nueces Whiskey Library: 3827 S. Alameda St.

  • Persis Indian Grill & Bar: 4650 Corona Drive

  • PKK: 213 S. Chaparral St.

  • Prime Steakhouse Whiskey Bar: 6326 Yorktown Blvd.

  • Sam & Louie's Pizzeria: 4117 S. Staples St.

  • Sarcastic Susie's: 300 U.S. 181 N., Gregory

  • Southern Style Sweets: 2134 Waldron Road

  • Taste at 555: 555 Carancahua St.

  • 495 Chesapeake Eats: 1008 E. North St., Rockport

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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Coastal Bend Restaurant Week returns for third year with 18 businesses