NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute’s (NOCHI) March 2023 Cohort of Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts students announced Sai (SAA-iy), a pop-up journey down the Silk Road to India, will open at the downtown campus on select dates from Feb. 3-15. Sai is a menu and experience designed entirely by this cohort as a capstone project ahead of their graduation. 100% of Sai’s proceeds benefit the NOCHI Scholarship Fund, which allows NOCHI to open career pathways for the majority of students who rely on financial assistance to enroll.
“Our pop-up restaurant is a time for our students to show what they have learned in our Certificate Program. And it’s the only time the general public has a chance to experience the student’s skill and passion,” said Executive Director Gerald Duhon. He added, “Sai is a great time to see what is going on at NOCHI.”
The Sai menu will be released soon. Reservations are required and are able to be made at www.nochi.org/sai. Sai will open for lunch seatings at 11:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
February 3
February 6
February 7
February 8
February 10
February 13
February 14
February 15
All NOCHI students complete a pop-up café as a capstone course as part of their expedited 100- day certifications. This original concept is dreamed up and executed entirely by students as a culmination of everything they’ve learned at NOCHI and as a way of connecting with industry leaders, prospective employers, family, and friends.
More than half of NOCHI students rely on financial assistance to enroll, and community support allows us to open more career pathways in the hospitality industry. NOCHI’s Scholarship Fund exists to support our beloved city’s hospitality industry: storied, irreplaceable, irreplicable, and central to us all. A driver of economic prosperity. A spirit and essence of being a New Orleanian or loving New Orleans.
NOCHI offers certificate programs in culinary arts and baking & pastry arts that cover twenty- five subjects and 650 hours of intensive hands-on instruction.
For more information on Sai or to make reservations, visit www.nochi.org/sai or contact NOCHI at (504) 635-0017.
