Annabel Pyne

Student Life Editor

The Hospitality & Tourism Management Club (HTMC) club served up a unique experience that encapsulates their purpose and takes advantage of its uniqueness. Held in P&J’s, they played The Princess and the Frog as they served a four-course meal, a drink they made, and all of the water one could ever need. 

“I’m in a lot of hospitality classes with a lot of the members. It’s really fun that we get to work together and make something special,” said Emily Search, a server at the event.

The meal was $15 at the door. There was a hostess waiting to take the guests to their seats. The event was run like any other restaurant with a prix fixe meal. There was a hostess, server, and kitchen staff. 

On the table when we arrived, there were pork deviled eggs and “swamp water,” to stay on theme with the southern bayou, which consisted of limeade, pineapple juice, ginger ale, and was topped with sherbet. There was also water at all of the place settings that was refilled whenever the glasses got too low.

The movie started shortly after all of the guests were seated. Quickly after the movie started po’boy sandwiches were served. Samantha Krol, with a shellfish allergy, had the shrimp in the sandwich substituted.

“The Fork and Film was a fun, well-thought-out event, with delicious food that they were thankfully able to make allergy-friendly at the last minute. I didn’t think I’d be able to go and I was really excited when I found out they could make the accommodation,” said Krol, a junior HRTM major.

They followed their sandwiches with gumbo with slightly under cooked rice and a corn muffin. Despite the rice, the rest of the meals did not have any other issues, and they even offered a second corn muffin because they had extras. 

The main attraction at the end was a beignet that came in a brown bag of powdered sugar that the guests were able to shake up on their own. There was a chorus of bag shaking which Search said she found “amusing.”

According to Search, HTMC is the only club on campus that can offer cooked food because they are ServSafe certified. They take advantage of this every year by hosting one of these Fork and Films and also an Empty Bowls event coming up on April 22 to help raise money for a homeless shelter.

All of the food was out before half the movie was finished and they just let it play until the end. They wrapped it up by recognizing all of the people involved with the event including the dishwasher, the servers and the chefs. 

Search claimed the event was successful and that she is excited to see what movie and menu they decide to do next year.