Competition cooks up success for young chefs

Andre Long
In Motion Staff Writer

There could not be a more perfect place to have the 2015 Daytona State College ‘Sharpen Your Skills’ Cooking Competition than the Hosseini Center, which hosted 15 high schools from across Florida during a day-long event that ended with an awards show honoring the top contenders.

As time came for trophies and scholarships to be handed out, signaling the end of the Feb. 6 competition, students’ nerves and anticipation were very apparent. Each event was judged to the smallest detail, with scores tallied by chef judges who came from across the state, as well as the local Hampton Inn and Halifax Hospital.

Prizes were given out for ‘waiters relay’ and ‘edible centerpiece,’ with first place teams receiving a $500 scholarship to DSC and $250 for second place. In the cooking competition, scholarships in the amounts of $750 for first, $500 for second and $250 for third. Taking first in the relay was Keystone Heights and runner-up was Bethlehem High. Taking top honors for edible centerpiece was Bayside High, with a close second going to Lake Minneola High. In the cooking competition, third went to DSC neighbor Mainland High School and Middleburg High placed second. First place in the cooking competition was Winter Park High School.

DeLand and Deltona high schools also had teams competing, but they could not top Mainland, which competed under the direction of Jason Kester, director of the culinary academy at the school. His students competed in all three divisions of the Friday event, including gourmet food. Mainland students placed third in the gourmet meal competition.

With three separate contests happening simultaneously, students were stressed by the time limitations and the pressure of trying to be the best at their trade. Even so, students enjoyed themselves as they moved through the competition and the adrenaline of the moment wore off. Watching their competitors and even picking up a few tricks as well, the teens waited anxiously for final moments to countdown. There were also frustrations with each team feeling they could have done better and some were focusing on mistakes made. Still, they remained optimistic for their teammates. The true boost in confidence came in the form of friends and family who gave unrelenting support.

Considering the packed building and huge stream of support from friends and family, it was the perfect atmosphere for students to grow their skills.

WDSC-Channel 15 will air the competition at 10 p.m. March 12, with a repeat screening at 2 a.m. March 13 and 4 p.m. March 15. Watch as the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality and Culinary Management becomes ground zero for students from area high schools who competed in a ProStart-style cook-off. For information, call 386-506-4415 or visit www.WDSCtv.org.