Culinary and pastry students from the Monroe College School of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Arts won 10 ACF (American Culinary Federation) medals at the annual Winterfest held at SUNY Delhi on Saturday, Jan. 21.
Cuauhtemoc Cortez, Dwight Duvoll, Tihelia James and Gabriela Grande chain-sawed, chiseled, and torched their ways through the ice carving competition while Jessica Johnson and Stephanie Cardenas showcased a flair for design in the occasion cake competition.
Freshman Kimani Hines, earned a silver medal and the distinction of “Best in Show” in his first cold food competition. Silver medals also went to Shamel Donigan, Jessica Johnson, and Kareem Meade. Bronze medals were awarded to Taibat Amusa, Stephanie Cardenas, Cuauhtemoc Cortez, Dwight Duvoll, Jessica Gil, and Victor Vives.
“We’re very proud of the students’ accomplishments,” said Dean Chef Frank Costantino, “and along with my colleagues Chef Eric Pellizzari and Chef Gerard Molloy, who accompanied the students to Delhi, we’re looking forward to the competitions that are coming up. We’re optimistic that we’re going to continue to do well.”
The Monroe Culinary Program is now selecting the students who will represent the college on the junior varsity and varsity teams in the 2012 New York State Championships on March 17 in Delhi, N.Y.
Monroe came in second (by .10 of a point) in the State Championships, which was hosted in the college’s state-of-the art Culinary Arts Center, in New Rochelle, N.Y.
