Chocolate and champagne, pastries, pork belly and mole will be served during the annual Chocolate and Champagne event happening on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. in the Aqua Terra Grill.

Tickets bought in advance are $25 and $30 at the door and will fund a trip to send selected culinary arts student to study in Italy for 17 days over the summer.

Culinary arts students will prepare tasty platters and serve champagne from different brands during the event. 

Culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes said they will have multiple stations in the kitchen, where the guests can meet culinary arts students. Sharkes said guests must be 21 or older to drink alcoholic beverages.

Sharkes said the culinary arts department is also collaborating with ballroom dancers who will perform to provide some entertainment for the guests.

Culinary arts student Genalyn Sabinano said she attended the Italy trip during summer 2015 and said he appreciates having the Chocolate and Champagne fundraiser.

She said everything from flight to hotel was paid for and she said was able to “learn the Italian way.”

However, she said the trip was not just about learning different cooking techniques in Italy. It was about the experience and bonding with each and every one of the students as a family.

All culinary students will participate in Friday’s event.

Culinary arts major Carissa Garcia said she hopes more people will attend as the event will be held in a brand new venue, as last year’s event was held in the Three Seasons Restaurant, which no longer exists after the Campus Center Project allowed for an updated location.

Sharkes said each culinary class will have different tasks to focus on during the event.

Students in Culinary 120, Introduction to Fundamentals in Food Service, will work the front, serving and helping the guests.

The rest of the students will be working in the kitchen, preparing dishes for the guests to enjoy.

The Chocolate and Champagne event also received private donations and help from sponsors.

Culinary arts instructional assistant Angel Chau said some of the sponsors are U.S. Foods, Purity Organic, which will donate champagne and wine, and Elite Associate, which will provide a chocolate tower for the guest to enjoy.

She said one of the sponsors donated a Kindle Fire tablet which will be raffled at the event.

The event has been advertised through social media outlets like Facebook, CCC’s website and even on websites like Eventbrite.com to purchase tickets in advance for $25.