DC Taste: Where Culinary Students Serve Up Excellence

• Asia Tabb
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  Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF’s The Spark.
  
  She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on “The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for “Unrestricted Praise” at Praise FM.
  
  Previously she was an anchor in Shreveport, Louisiana at KTAL/KMSS. Asia also worked as a Multi-Media Journalist at WHP-TV here in Harrisburg, PA.
  
  Asia got her break into news at KTVO in Ottumwa, Ia. While the 2020 caucuses were gearing up. Asia followed many candidates through their campaign trail from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and 46th President of the United States Joe Biden.
  
  Asia was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a major in Communications.
  
  Asia is extremely friendly so don’t be afraid to say hi if you see her out and about.

photo courtesy of Claire Dacko

Airdate: Thursday, March 20, 2025

On a recent segment of The Spark, we took a deep dive into a one-of-a-kind dining experience at DC Taste, the student-run restaurant at Dauphin County Technical School (DCTS). The program offers Culinary Arts senior students the chance to design, manage, and execute their own fine-dining concepts, preparing them for the food industry.

The program was named by students and is a four-year culinary program. Chef Claire Dacko, Culinary Arts Instructor, has been with DCTS for 11 years. The freshman students begin the course with the basics, and by senior year they become student chefs.

photo courtesy of Claire Dacko

“They learn all of their foundational skills, knife skills, cooking methods, on through baking and pastry… How to work with different soups, sauces, vegetables, proteins when they’re younger, and then this is essentially their capstone project.”

The final project for the students is the restaurant. They become restaurant managers where they decide on theme of their restaurant, the menu options, the decorations, and more. The idea of the program is to prepare them with real world experience.

photo courtesy of Claire Dacko

“They earn industry recognized certifications, they earn what you would in a college program, and they get the experience serving the public…That prepares them for working in our community right here in Harrisburg, and beyond to be able to work in restaurants and hotels and really whatever they want to do.”

Illeiona Johnson (Illy) is a senior at DCTS and came to the program with prior experience working in her family catering business “Str8 out of Forrest.” Through her experience with the program, she learned a lot through hands-on learning over the past four years.

“it’s very good to have communication with like everybody around you. Cause you gotta know when everybody’s doing and when they’re doing it so you can know what to do. Especially like I learned a lot of soft skills too. Like of course communication, time management, and especially patience.”

Michael Osborne-Griffy is also a senior at DCTS. He hopes to become an Executive Chef of an Asian restaurant someday. For his restaurant at DC Taste, he decided to test out a Asian themed menu.

“We got Takoyaki, which I think is from Japan, which is just like a batter that’s been filled with like scallions, octopus, tempura bits, that’s like what, topped with tangy, it’s like some tangy barbecue sauce and some Japanese Kewpie mayo and like needle flakes for some crunch.”

DC Taste is now accepting reservations. To make a reservation, call 717-652-3170/1107 or email DCTaste@dcts.org. The restaurant runs from now until May 1.