Food for thought

Monday, March 29, 2004 | 11:33 a.m.

Anyone looking to take a bite out of Clark County School District Superintendent Carlos Garcia? For $3.50 he's yours.

The "Hail Garcia!" sandwich -- turkey breast, Caesar dressing and Parmesan cheese -- is one of the newest additions to the cafeteria menu at the Edward Greer Education Center on East Flamingo Road.

"I don't want anybody to 'hail' me unless they're hailing me a cab," Garcia said Friday. "But I've tried the sandwich and it's pretty good. Sometimes we're all too stuffy. You have to be able to laugh at yourself a little."

Open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, the cafeteria primarily serves district staff and occasional visitors to the "Ed Shed."

But Sergio Tellez, who took over as food services supervisor earlier this year, said he hopes the new menu items named for district brass will attract even more diners.

With the district's $1.4 billion operating budget, Deputy Superintendent of Operations Walt Rulffes could buy 400 million of the combo meals named in his honor. "Walt's Budget Bonanza" includes soup, salad, breadstick and beverage for just $3.50.

"You get a lot of things for a low price," Tellez said. "The name makes sense because that's what (Rulffes) has to try and do every day."

The $3 "Southwest of Orci" salad -- named for Agustin Orci, deputy superintendent of instruction -- has been the top seller, Tellez said. But Orci admitted he has yet to try the dish because it conflicts with his diet plan.

"Too many carbs," said Orci, who's on a low-carbohydrate diet. "I'll probably break down and try it at least once."

Tellez, who spent 23 years as an executive chef at Bally's before joining the school district in 2001, said he has tried to bring some of the creativity of the hotel kitchen with him. Iceberg lettuce has been replaced with romaine and spring mix. Wraps and quesadillas have also been added.

"We want things to be upbeat and fun," Tellez said. "It helps to have a menu with a sense of humor."