LANSING – The Michigan Restaurant Association Educational Support Foundation will send the culinary team from Lenawee Intermediate School District TECH Center in Adrian and the management team from Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton to compete in the 15th annual National ProStart Invitational in Anaheim, California. Both teams took first place in their respective disciplines at the Michigan ProStart Competition held in March.
Fifty-three teams representing 20 career and technical centers from across Michigan competed in four disciplines during the two-day event: culinary, management, nutrition, and knowledge bowl. Industry professionals as well as leading college and university instructors observed and rated all portions of the competition.
?We are extremely proud of all the teams in this year?s competition,? said Ken Wasco, MRA ESF board chairman. ?The talent on display during the Competition never fails to amaze me. The future of the industry is in good hands with these students. I am confident the winners will serve as outstanding ambassadors of the State of Michigan?s foodservice industry at the National Invitational.?
The winning culinary team, LISD Tech Center (Adrian), prepared a three-course meal ? an appetizer of scallop and turnip puree, an entr�e of filet mignon with potato puree and bordelaise sauce, and a pain purdue dessert. The team had one hour and only two butane burners to complete their meal.
Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (Canton), the winning management team, developed a comprehensive plan for The Loft, a contemporary, casual dining restaurant, featuring Michigan food products, recycled wood tables, and eco-friendly kitchen appliances. They made a verbal presentation and applied critical thinking skills to questions about challenges restaurant managers face in day-to-date operations.
The winner of the ServSafe knowledge bowl was Careerline Tech Center Team A (Holland). The winner of the nutrition competition was Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (Canton).
The top teams divided more than $500,000 in scholarships to help the students pursue careers in the foodservice industry.
The Michigan ProStart Competition owes a great deal of its success to its generous sponsors. The culinary discipline was sponsored by Sysco of Michigan and the management discipline was sponsored by Gordon Food Service. Van Eerden Foodservice sponsored the ServSafe Knowledge Bowl. Other sponsors included: Ashby?s Sterling Ice Cream, Coca-Cola, Diversified Restaurant Holdings, Domino?s, DTE, Ecolab, Michael?s & Associates, and Valley City Linen.
The final standings for the Michigan ProStart Competition 2015:
Culinary Discipline
First Place ? LISD TECH Center; Adrian
Second Place ? Plymouth-Canton Educational Park; Canton
Third Place ? Capital Area Career Center Team A; Mason
Fourth Place ? Capital Area Career Center Team B; Mason
Fifth Place ? SWWC @ Saline High School; Saline
Management Discipline
First Place ? Plymouth-Canton Educational Park; Canton
Second Place ? Saginaw Career Complex; Saginaw
Third Place ? West Shore ESD, Ludington
Fourth Place ? Capital Area Career Center; Mason
Fifth Place ? LISD TECH Center; Adrian
Nutrition Discipline
First Place ? Plymouth-Canton Educational Park; Canton
Second Place ? Clare-Gladwin RESA; Clare
Third Place ? Capital Area Career Center; Mason
Fourth Place ? West Shore ESD, Ludington
Fifth Place ? Roseville High School; Roseville
ServSafe Knowledge Bowl
First Place ? Careerline Tech Center Team A; Holland
Second Place ? West Shore ESD, Ludington
Third Place ? Van Buren Technology Center Team A; Lawrence
Fourth Place ? Van Buren Technology Center Team C; Lawrence
Fifth Place ? Saginaw Career Complex; Saginaw
ProStart is a nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and industry to dvelop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow?s restaurant and foodservice leaders. In Michigan, 68 high schools and career centers use the ProStart curriculum with nearly 5,000 students participating. For more information about ProStart, contact Amanda Smith at 800-968-9668, visit michiganrestaurant.org/prostart, or find us on Twitter and Facebook.
