Based on the popular Food Network TV show, the contest gave teams from five of the eight culinary arts programs in the district a chance to work under pressure, creating a complete meal in an hour for some of San Diego's top chefs. Madison, Mira Mesa, San Diego High School of Business, Scripps Ranch and Hoover high schools participated; Garfield and Morse have the other culinary programs.
Students are able to work on their ideas, go shopping, portion their protein and measure any dry or liquid ingredients the day before. They are not allowed to do any actual cooking, pre-making of dough, or premixing ingredients ahead of time. On the day of the competition, they were presented with a secret ingredient that must be incorporated into at least one of their three courses. They are allowed to have their recipes or prep-list at the station during the competition. Watch video from CBS 8
The secret ingredient this year was tofu. Some of the secret ingredients from previous years include calamari, brie, balsamic vinegar, prosciutto, and cantaloupe. Many of the schools hold mock competitions in the week leading up the event in order to select the students for the team or practice the nuts and bolts of the competition.
Madison's four-person winning team, led by captain Carolina Iniquez, created a three-course fine dining meal, all by hand and from scratch. The menu consisted of Bourbon Smoked Scallops, Sweet Pea Puree with Vanilla Parmesan Foam, Pan Seared Muscovy Duck Breast with Fingerling and Fennel Confit, Rainbow Chard, Blueberry-Cabernet Beurre Rouge, and White Chocolate Mousse with Vanilla-Fig Gastrique and Spun Sugar Cage.
The team was coached by Madison’s Chef Halbert and Sous Chef Emily Obeso from the Manchester Grand Hyatt. The students now move on to the California ProStart Invitational competition at the Pasadena Convention Center on March 17-18. The ProStart Invitational is the country’s premier high school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts.
“It is so much fun and makes all of our classroom cooking projects more meaningful because we are cooking for professional judges,” said Vannak Seang of runner-up Mira Mesa High School team. It was Seang's second time in the Iron Chef competition, where the students are guided by teacher Zhee Zhee Aguirre and mentor Juan Esquivel from Bully¹s.
"It is a tremendous experience," said Michael Nyland, a San Diego High School of Business senior and repeat contestant at Iron Chef. "It makes us all very nervous but it is worth the thrill."
Third-place San Diego High School of Business is lead by teacher Brian Murphy. Also participating were Scripps Ranch High School with teacher, Kimberly Coelho; and newcomer Hoover High School under the direction of teacher, Pam Dahlin, with the help of mentor Jeff Lewis from the San Diego Culinary Institute.
The Culinary Arts and Management course in the San Diego Unified School District is supported by the Office of College, Career and Technical Education. Major support for the program comes from the California Restaurant Association San Diego Chapter. San Diego Gas and Electric Company provided the facility used for the event, the Sempra Energy Innovation Center, 4760 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.. For more information, contact Lisa McDonnell at (858) 503-1841.
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