Students Cook Up a Fine Idea

December 12, 2018December 12, 2018 Staff Writers

For 15 years, In&Out Magazine has been the definitive source of “Everything that’s going on” in and out of the community. We thank you, our readers, as well as the businesses that support the magazine through advertising, for that opportunity. But with little going on, and many businesses suspending or canceling their ads during the Covid-19 crisis, we are suspending publication of the magazine and web sites for the month of May.

From left, Amy Bueno, Nichelle Level, Allienna Medina and Tyra Nutlouis gather at Avenue 27’s reception desk. Photos by Rachel Kurtenbach

Culinary and restaurant management students are getting hands-on training at a new student-run restaurant that opened recently at the Barry Goldwater High School campus. Avenue 27, featuring a menu with appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches and burgers, main entrees and desserts—all prepared by the students themselves—is now open to the public on Friday evenings and for special events.

“It’s a huge deal for the students,” said BGHS culinary arts instructor Ryan Mattheis, during an open house last month. “They’re learning true work skills in a place that is truly a restaurant.”

“I think this is amazing, to be able to have a restaurant be open to the public… and others are trusting us to prepare them food,” BGHS junior Allienna Medina told In&Out.

Must-try dishes, according to Mattheis: a seared bistro steak served with chipotle mole, potato puree, charred brussels sprouts and blistered shishito peppers. For vegetarians, he recommends the roasted vegetable pasta served with cremini mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and zucchini with fresh fettuccine pasta tossed in a basil garlic cream sauce.

Avenue 27 is open on Friday evenings from 4:30–7 p.m. by reservation. To book, email , or call 623-445-3227.

Rachel Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

Lead Student Chef James Lacno mingles with guests during the restaurant’s open house.

From left, Bryanna Valenzuela Valenzuela, Trinity Nutlouis, Amy Bueno, Yahir Lopez and Bill Truong prepare the evening’s meal for the launch of the student-run restaurant.

Staff Writers

North Phoenix News staff writers and editors often work together to produce articles like this one.