EDGARD — West St. John High School recently held a holiday brunch sponsored by the school’s ProStart Program.

The event was funded by a grant awarded to Lorenzo Edwards, ProStart instructor at the school, from the River Parishes Education Foundation, which has a goal of promoting community and parental involvement in schools.

Invited to the Dec. 17 brunch at the school were district and school administrators, parents and other community members. The event allowed students to showcase their emerging culinary skills while brushing up on customer service by giving them the opportunity to practice on actual customers, as opposed to a simulation.

Students prepared a fried dumpling filled with turkey, cornbread dressing and peas, served with cranberry-orange dipping sauce for an appetizer.

They also served roasted sweet potato bisque and a spiced pecan and satsuma salad with a fried goat cheese ball.

The entrees included a shrimp frittata with crawfish sauce and breakfast potatoes and beef grillades with cheddar and roasted jalapeno corn grits.

For dessert, there was a trio of pumpkin items that included a spiced cake, crème brulee and cheesecake.

“The brunch was a collaborative project,” Edwards said. “While being treated to a delicious six-course meal, the guests were to create the atmosphere the students would be exposed to if they were working in an actual restaurant’s dining room.”

After the meal was over, guests were asked to complete a brief survey to rate the food, service and other items.