Press release from County of Gloucester
David Lee and Kaitlyn Johnson. Photo courtesy of Gloucester County, Special to The Sun
Gloucester County Institute of Technology student chefs won four medals at the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) 7th Annual County Vocational-Technical Schools Cook-Off Challenge on May 11. The competition took place at Caesar’s in Atlantic City during NJAC’s 68th annual conference.
Freeholder Heather Simmons, a member of the NJAC executive committee and Gloucester County’s liaison to the Department of Economic Development, said, “GCIT culinary students rose to the occasion and impressed the judges and participants of the conference so much they came home with four medals. We are very proud of these students and they represent the outstanding caliber of our vocational and technical school. We are looking forward to great things from them.”
GCIT students prepared and displayed their ‘Angry Prawns’ dish and were awarded silver medals in NJAC Taste Judges Award and NJAC Station Display Presentation and bronze medals in People’s Choice and Chef’s Award.
Students from Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties all competed for gold, silver, and bronze awards in categories of taste, station display, and food presentation. Each team consisted of five to six students and two staff members and they were required to create 350 samples of appetizers at a total cost of less than $450.
Professional Atlantic City chefs, NJAC county officials and business members and conference attendees were presented with the task of judging the dishes created by the talented culinary arts students.
