You are learning presentation english: you will read the scene it happens in, learn 10 words and phrases, take apart the pattern behind them (presentation language: signposting, transitions, and audience engagement), hear them in a conversation, rehearse them, and finish by saying one thing out loud to be graded.
Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), Brookfield Place, a student pitch night
The Institute of Culinary Education hosts pitch nights where students present restaurant concepts to a panel of investors and chefs. Tonight, three teams are presenting. I'm on team two.
Team one goes first. Their concept is a Filipino breakfast spot in Bushwick. 'I'd like to walk you through our vision,' their lead says. 'First, I'll cover the market gap. Then I'll move on to the menu and pricing.' They're polished. The judges are nodding.
Then it's our turn. My palms are sweating. 'Good evening,' I begin. 'I'd like to walk you through our concept: a seasonal, farm-to-table lunch counter in the Financial District.' I take a breath. 'First, let me set the context. There are over 300,000 office workers in Lower Manhattan, and most of them eat the same five things for lunch.' The room laughs.
'This brings me to our menu strategy,' I continue. 'As you can see from our research, demand for healthy, locally sourced lunch options has grown forty percent in three years.' I move through pricing, location, and design. 'To wrap up, our key takeaway is this: New York doesn't need another fast-casual chain. It needs something real.' The room is quiet. Then the applause starts.