Behind the kitchen door, there is the clattering sound of dinnerware.

The computers malfunction. Patrons wait for their change.

The food is not hot enough. Diners return it and wait.

And wait.

Two diners stop in after serving hours. Servers lead them to a quiet corner table.

Diners walk out, thanking the wait staff for exceptional service.

All are scenes that can be found in any restaurant, but the Glass Canopy Cafe isn’t just any restaurant.

It’s a restaurant-classroom.

Located inside the Kokomo Area Career Center, the cafe is part of the center’s culinary arts program. On Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the year, the program’s third-year students get to experience and work in their own real-life restaurant.

And it’s for all real: All the scenes mentioned above occurred recently at the cafe.

“The experience we are getting is wonderful. All the stuff that happened was unexpected and you do what you have to do. It happens like that in the real world, so you have to keep your head clear and stay calm,” said 17-year-old Noe Caraveo, who assuaged a table of eight diners waiting for their entrees while at the same time he prepared a table for two late-arriving diners.

“It’s all hands-on. We change jobs on regular basis. But cooking is what I do. I want to be a chef.”

The center’s culinary program began in 1999 with 11 students. Shelly Rust, the program’s director, now teaches four classes a day with 100 students.

Rust is the program’s only instructor.

Students enrolled in the program represent nine different school corporations, said Christa Jordan, assistant to the director. She added the list of students applying for the program “keeps getting bigger. But the good thing is once they get into the program they do not get out of it until graduation.”

And with the popularity of the Food Network and other culinary-based TV shows, more students are taking an interest in the culinary arts, Rust said.

“They will see something on TV and come in and ask can they try it,” said Rust, who has been involved in the restaurant industry since 14. “They are artists with their hands and it is creative. They are seeing cooking in a whole different light and they find it fun.”

In addition to working in every aspect of the restaurant, students take turns selecting a vegetarian and meat entree as well as designing the menu and what will be served for lunch.

Furthermore, to give other KACC students real-life experiences, the cafe’s table centerpieces, furniture and graphic designs are done by students in selected KACC programs.

To prepare her students for a culinary life outside the cafe, Rust has reached out to several Indiana culinary schools for her students; some have even received college credit for their education.

Students are implementing a “green friendly” segment to the program and there are plans to begin growing their own produce.

Rust is also preparing students for a nationally certified test from the National Restaurant Association. It is required that one person in every restaurant is certified by passing the ServSafe test.

Taking the test now and passing it as a student will be a plus for their future employment, said Rust.

“It’s given in January. I tell them it is a hard test that tests your knowledge of safety and sanitation. It is a huge deal to have passed it,” said Rust.

As a teacher and cook, Rust said she is living the best of both worlds.

“They can use everything they learn here as a stepping stone to their future, so they can work in an industry they love.”

However, picking food over music may be difficult for Gary Thacker.

The 17-year-old junior admits he doesn’t “care much for the book work” associated with the program, but “I enjoy cooking. I like cooking noodles the best. Cooking is so hands-on.”

So is playing the guitar and other musical instruments.

Thacker is part of a local metal band. He has a passion for music and cooking; cooking and music.

He hopes one day to make a living at one of them.

“Cooking is so much fun. We are learning a lot,” said Thacker, as he removed plates and black linen napkins from a table.

“I love playing my music. I guess if music doesn’t work out, I would love to manage my own restaurant. I would really enjoy it if I could do both.”

• K.O. Jackson can be reached at 765-854-6739 or via e-mail kirven.jackson@kokomotribune.com