COACH Kids of Clinton County partnered with the Angry Donkey Restaurant and Pub in Michigantown to host the mentors and mentees of the Community HOPE program on Tuesday evening.
During the event, Anrgy Donkey owner Keltie Sullivan led the charge for the group by discussing her experiences with owning a restaurant, obtaining her culinary degree, learning the intricacy of dining etiquette and maintaining a sought-after family restaurant in the town of Michigantown.
Sullivan led the group to the smoker toward the backside of the restaurant to showcase the final steps of creating the Angry Donkey’s famous pulled pork, which was then served to the group to grand reactions. The group learned more about the process behind the creation of pork, such as the unique mixture of woods and spices that cause the tenderness of the meat and the famous taste that the Angry Donkey has become known for within the community.
The mentors and mentees were served the freshly-made pork while Sullivan led a streamlined etiquette course, covering the proper plate placement, silverware placement, napkin etiquette, talking etiquette and much more for the attendees. During the lesson, mentors and mentees alike asked numerous questions, such as whether to stack the dishes after a meal, how to dispose of unliked food, how to pass the plates at a family-style, plate-passing restaurant and much more.
Sullivan discribed her training for the etiquette classes that she has conducted, such as the COACH Kids class as well as classes for schools in the past. Sullivan trained alongside a teacher who has reportedly taught classes and served with high-ranking officials across the nation. Sullivan stated that her passion was teaching the classes to younger individuals to encourage them to continue proper etiquette throughout their lives. However, Sullivan stated that she does not include the four-hour silverware class she underwent in her training when she teaches local students.
Following the etiquette lesson, the group was treated to a tour of the restaurant where the attendees were givent he opportunity to see the interworkings of the restaurant and learn more about the history of the building, including the renovations that had been implemented by the Angry Donkey itself, such as the woodworking for the bar, the railing and the floor that customers are welcomed with as they enter the front door.
The group was then treated to a short lesson about breading chicken, which they were invited practice with the flour, egg and bread crumb process. Sullivan fried the tenders breaded by the group, serving them with french fries for every member in attendance alongside different sauces, which garnered some recipe requests from attendees.
As the event drew to a close, Sullivan treated the attendees to ice cream adorned with homemade hot fudge while every attendee circled the room to introduce themselves to each other and bond. Sullivan ended the evening with a handshake lesson for the mentees, teaching them how to make the perfect first impression with a firm and confident handshake.
The staff, mentors and mentees of COACH Kids extended extreme gratitude toward the Angry Donkey and Sullivan for hosting the event for the Community HOPE program.
For more information regarding becoming a mentor for COACH Kids and experiencing events such as dining at the Angry Donkey, call the office at 765-654-8812 or visit COACH Kids of Clinton County on Facebook.
