(Atlantic City, NJ—May 12, 2017) For
the first time since its inception, the High Tech Culinary Academy participated
in the 7th Annual New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) County
Vocational-Technical School Cook-Off Challenge at Caesar’s Palace, taking home
the Silver and Bronze Medals, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of
High Tech High School.
“We wanted to showcase our students’ Caribbean
roots to introduce people outside of Hudson County to delicious flavors and the
work that goes into their food,” says Chef Dyanna Bruno. “All our students
worked together flawlessly. We’re so proud
of the product they put forth.”
For the County Vocational-Technical School
Cook-Off Challenge, eleven schools from across the Garden State, with a $500
budget, plated and served 400 hors d'oeuvres.
Professional executive chefs judged schools based on Taste, Theme, and Presentation,
as well as a People’s Choice category. The
High Tech Culinary Academy prepared a take on ropa veja, transforming the traditional slow-braised, tender Cuban
beef dish into a bite-sized spring rolls.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our kids’
efforts and how professional they proved themselves [at the Cook-Off],” adds Chef
Peter Turro.
Led by Culinary Academy instructors Bruno,
Turro, and also Chef Jennifer Fargo, the High Tech students took home the Silver
Medal in the Presentation Category and the Bronze Medals in the Taste and People’s
Choice categories for taste and flavor.
The
following Culinary Academy students took part in the County
Vocational-Technical School Cook-Off Challenge: North Bergen residents Aysha
Burgos, Gabriella Davila, Jeffrey Zarzuela, and Olivia Zulueta, as well as
Taylor Avila and Jacqueline Perez, both of Union City.
Kudos
to instructor Zach Bolich and his woodshop students, who constructed a professional-looking
set, and instructors Bill Kennon and Eric Van Zanten and their fine art students,
who created an exquisite painting to represent the theme of “Caribbean meets
Hudson County.”
