Cafe Laura, an on-campus eatery operated by Penn State students, announced themes for its spring 2024 theme dinners. Operated by the Penn State School of Hospitality Management, the restaurant provides students with hands-on experience in the industry and opportunities to practice their skills before entering the workforce.

Each semester, students enrolled in Hospitality Management 430: Advanced Food Production and Service Management collaborate to host a series of theme dinners within the facility. All hospitality management majors are required to complete the course, which is rigorous and includes a weekly, seven-hour lab session.

Coming up this semester, there are eight theme dinners to choose from that are open to students and community members as reservation-only. Cafe Laura will also validate up to two hours of parking for attendees. 

Drawing inspiration from movies and TV, a few of the selections are reminiscent of Hulu and Disney+ including “The Bear at Cafe Laura: Our Take on the Hit Show,” “The Hunger Games: Culinary Tribute to Flavorful Unity,” and “Wonderland: Fall Down the Rabbit Hole.” If you’re interested in a dining experience accompanied by witty names and cleverly-themed cuisine, this may be the perfect stop for you. 

If you’re missing a classic approach to dining on campus, another round of selections may be more tailored to your palate. From “Big Apple Bites: The Diner of Possibilities” to  “A Night at the Met Gala: Dine in Elegance,” State College just might transform into New York City. One can also relax with a crowd-favorite of Italian cuisine and bring a taste of Sicily home with “Coastal Elegance & Culinary Romance: A Journey Along the Italian Riviera.” 

Finally, for those just looking for creativity in a meal, take a tour of the country or the Caribbean with “Caribbean Castaways: Get Lost in the Tropics” or “Country Roads, Take Me Home: A Taste of the Music City.” There’s really no wrong way to go here, folks, as long as the road is headed toward the Mateer Building. 

While no alcohol is served, Cafe Laura is BYOB and allows patrons to bring wine or beer to enjoy along with an extended range of offerings and daily hours.

More information on Cafe Laura theme dinners can be found on its website and the Penn State School of Hospitality Management’s website.