LANSING – The culinary team from Plymouth-Canton Educational Park took second place an the management team from Saginaw Career Complex took fourth place in the 15th Annual National ProStart Invitational in Dallas, Texas, held this past weekend.
Plymouth-Canton and Saginaw took first place in their respective categories in the Michigan ProStart Competition held in March, which allowed them to participate in the National Invitational.
“We’re delighted that the students from Michigan placed so highly at Nationals,” said Ken Wasco, MRA ESF board chairman. “The students practice for months, preparing for competition – what an outstanding result of all their hard work and efforts. And what a great representation of the State of Michigan’s foodservice industry – they made us all proud!”
Culinary teams must demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes using only two butane burners. Plymouth-Canton Educational Park’s meal consisted of a pan-seared scallop with artichoke puree starter, braised short rib and petite filet mignon with potato puree and glazed vegetables entrée, and passion fruit mousse and strawberry-coconut sorbet dessert.
Management teams must prepare a comprehensive restaurant plan, make a verbal presentation, and apply critical thinking skills to questions about challenges restaurant managers face daily. Saginaw Career Complex developed Stars and Stripes, a casual dining, non-profit restaurant that trains veterans for careers in the restaurant industry.
Judges for the competition are industry professionals, college and university leaders, master chefs, and business owners. Plymouth-Canton and Saginaw competed against 48 other high school programs from throughout the
United States.
The winning students received scholarships from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and Burger King McLamore Foundation. In addition, they also earned scholarships from 15 different colleges and universities across the country to help them in their pursuit of a career in the restaurant industry.
