New Mexico State University's School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management plans to begin selling tickets Sept. 14 for feasts that span the globe and will tantalize the senses.

International Dinners is a laboratory-based class where students learn about the management, preparation and serving of international dinners. Tickets are $62.50 per person and include a five-course meal with wine paired tastings.

Tickets will be sold for a South American cuisine Oct. 25, Italian cuisine Nov. 8, and American steakhouse cuisine Nov. 29.

"The public's participation creates not only an enjoyable evening for themselves, but offers a real-time experience for students in how a 'full house' restaurant would be on a special event night," said Janet Green, department head and director of HRTM. "It is an opportunity for them to test and hone the customer service skills they have acquired."

Green said the diners can expect to experience students who are learning to manage front of the house operations as well as back of the house operations. For the International dinners, students research and create appropriate table-top designs and place settings, and they learn how to serve and interact with guests.

A wine tasting and discussion of various wines will be offered in the new Bobby Lee Lawrence Academy of Wine at 6 p.m. The dinners begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased in person starting at 2 p.m. in Gerald Thomas Hall, Room 142. No reservations will be made over the phone. The dinners are held at 100 West Café on the west end of Gerald Thomas Hall.

Anyone with questions about the international dinners can call the HRTM office at 575-646-5995.