HIGHLAND | It all started when Russ Tomjanovich's daughter introduced him to a novel way to enjoy a first-class, gourmet dinner.

His daughter, Doreen Van Gorp, was a hotel and restaurant management major at Purdue University Calumet. Her studies eventually led her to a career working at hotels such as The Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons, he said.

Through her, he found out about Purdue's advanced food class, in which students learn how to prepare dishes from around the world.

Tomjanovich, who is a member of the Holy Name Society at St. James the Less parish in Highland, arranged to bring a group of parishioners to Purdue Calumet to sample a meal prepared by students.

"We got it started," he said, and now, more than 10 years later, St. James' Holy Name Society hosts an annual Purdue-based gourmet dinner series that runs through the fall.

This year's series is winding down as winter approaches, Tomjanovich said. This year's theme focuses on a wide range of international cuisine. A dinner on Wednesday features a Japanese menu, including a vegetable dish and ginger pork. Diners submit their orders in advance.

"We have appetizers, vegetables," all the trimmings, Tomjanovich promised. The Nov. 18 dinner features South American cuisine, and the grand finale Dec. 9 is called Across America.

Diners meet in a room on campus and are served their dinners at three separate seatings. Purdue students cook, present and serve the meal.

Most partakers over the years have been from the parish, but anyone is welcome. Reservations for the South American dinner on Nov. 14 are still open. The cost is $15 per person, and there is limited seating.

Reservations for the Dec. 9 finale, Across America, are also available, and the cost is $17.

For more information or a brochure, call (219) 989-2710. The St. James parish office may be reached at (219) 924-4220.