The University of New Hampshire will host the "New Orleans: Unmasked" gourmet dinners Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, with a brunch served Sunday, March 29, at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, 10 Garrison Avenue. Tickets are $50 per person for dinner ($40 for students) and $40 per person for brunch ($30 for students) and may be purchased online at http://paulcollege.unh.edu/gourmetdinner.

The gourmet meals are hosted by the Hospitality Management Program Advanced Food & Beverage students and will feature a four-course prix fixe menu inspired by the bustling and cultural city of New Orleans.

As part of a capstone project for the Hospitality Management major, students are positioned as managers and directors for planning, coordinating and managing a restaurant style event. In past years, the Gourmet Dinner has always been held in a banquet style but this semester, the class is taking on new challenges. The capstone combines the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom with hands-on experience gained through internships and jobs in the hospitality industry. The coursework and work experience is then translated and applied to create an exquisite dining experience.

"Our team has put together a fantastic event inspired by the rich culture of New Orleans," said Sacha Cavezzali, student general manager. "This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, so it seems fitting that we celebrate the fact that from this devastating natural disaster everyone pulled together to bring the city back to its culture-rich origins. The people of New Orleans, and all across the nation, worked together to bring life back to this once thriving city - the city known for its celebration of life and culture with its festival of Mardi Gras. We hope that everyone enjoys their experience with us as much as we have enjoyed putting it all together."

UNH's Hospitality Management program is the second-oldest hospitality management program in the U.S. The program provides students with the overall breadth and depth of a common core of business courses as well as professional interdisciplinary courses and internship opportunities. The program takes a one-size-fits-one approach to each prospective student. Students can specialize in areas like food and beverage management, lodging and resort management, marketing and sales management, and event management. UNH graduates have a high placement rate with starting salaries competitive to the market. More information: https://paulcollege.unh.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/bs-hospitality-management.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,300 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.