It's pure magic for Career & Tech Culinary Team

The date was March 11, the event Cuisine Magic 2007 in Albany, and the beneficiary Northeast Health Foundation and Eddy Visiting Nurse Association. The excitement: a team of Career & Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology student apprentices and their chef-teachers brought home the gold, and the silver and a People's Choice Award! With at least 200 people in attendance, our team competed along with other chefs from the Capital Region, with their efforts scored on a point system developed by the American Culinary Federation (which, by the way, has certified our programs). Chef Paul Rother won a gold medal, Chef Paul Dolan a silver medal, and Team Career & Tech the People's Choice Award.

Chef Jim Haas, in addition to competing with student apprentice Matt Muzio, "ran back and forth to campus for the actual event set-up," according to Chef Dolan. "Chef Haas also manned one of the booths with several students and played one of the most important roles in the whole event."

Career & Tech Culinary Arts & Hospitality Technology students (and their home high schools) who helped prepare for and assisted at Cuisine Magic included: Anthony Ayers (Shenendehowa), Lashawn Bass-Buchanan (Guilderland), Manny Caldwell (Albany/Maywood), Josh Caprara (Schenectady), Keontae Cooks (Colonie Central), Ashley Fortin (Mohonasen, who apprenticed with Chef Dolan), Matt Muzio (Cohoes), Charles Nadler (Mohonasen), Cody Porter (Niskayuna), Denae Ryan (Schenectady), Matt Savoy (Scotia-Glenville), Rebecca Shaw (Colonie Central), Karmen Smith (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk), and Larissa Townley (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk).

"The students' enthusiasm, energy and professionalism made a huge impression on judges and attendees at Cuisine Magic," noted Chef Dolan. "They were justly rewarded with the People's Choice Award."

Chefs Brucker and Iannacone also worked behind the scenes readying food and equipment for the event and working with students throughout the evening. Meg Bugler's Floral Design and Botanical Services students provided outstanding floral arrangements for Career & Tech's tables. Assistant Principal Debbie Kaplan reports, "It was a wonderful evening. The food was awesome, and our students truly enjoyed their role in the event. Congratulations!"

[3/07]