A team of Morrisville State College students took second place in the prestigious Bistro Challenge at the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) Conference 2014 held recently in Orlando, Fla.
In the IFSEA Bistro Challenge, teams have 90 minutes to plan, prep, plate and present their dishes, incorporating a “mystery” ingredient, to a panel of culinary judges. The mystery ingredient for this year's challenge was Mexican chocolate which had to be included in at least one of the dishes. Teams were given a pantry of more than 125 items to create their courses.
MSC's team selected a tropical theme and presented a pineapple boat with pecan breaded shrimp and a tropical salsa appetizer, poached white fish accompanied with rice pilaf, leek and carrot compote, orange gastrique, and citrus flakes for the entrée. It was paired with a chocolate pan brownie layered with orange flavored cream, fresh fruit and caramel sauce for dessert.
“We are all very proud of the team's performance this year once again,” said Anthony Lupino, of New Hartford, assistant professor of travel and tourism/ hospitality management and a bistro coach. “They bonded through many practice sessions and during the event, created a menu from the ingredients they were given, while following all sanitation rules.”
Students were judged on creativity, teamwork, organization, front-of-the-house skills, menu planning, taste, sanitation, and table scape.
The Morrisville State College IFSEA Bistro Challenge team was compromised of: Amanda Cherry, of Slate Hill and Alysha Jones, of Oxford, both resort and recreation service management bachelor degree majors; Daniel DellaVecchia, of Goshen, and Nathaniel Lovell, of Cazenovia, both restaurant management associate degree majors.
The team was coached by Lupino, co-owner of Bella Cucina Restaurant in New Hartford, and Kerry Beadle, of Hamilton, assistant professor and chair of the college's Hospitality Technology Department, and executive chef at the Copper Turret, a college-run restaurant.
During the event, $8,000 in scholarship awards were given to Morrisville State students.
Worthy Goal Scholarships were presented to: Abbey Cappedonia, of Sherburne and Amanda Cherry, of Slate Hill, both resort and recreation service management bachelor degree majors; and Nathaniel Lovell, of Cazenovia, a restaurant management associate degree major.
The Guam Branch Scholarship was presented to Vanessa Connally, of Queens, and the Faulstitch Family Scholarship was awarded to Nicole DeVito, of Manlius, both resort and recreation service management bachelor degree majors.
Andy Tran, an information technology: network administration student and Syracuse branch newsletter editor, of Syracuse, brought home the grand prize for best electronic newsletter of the entire association.
Jones, who also serves as student branch president, was awarded the IFSEA Certificate of Merit for dedicated service to IFSEA, the Syracuse and Morrisville State College student branch. She also received the Dunsmoor Family Scholarship.
Lupino won the International Distinguished Service Citation for his leadership and commitment to IFSEA.
Pete Starowicz, Syracuse branch president was awarded the International Distinguished Service Citation for excellence in service to the organization; and Earl Reed, MCFE and Morrisville State College alumnus was awarded the IFSEA Distinguished Service Citation for his leadership in founding the Morrisville State College student branch and for more than 20 years of dedicated service to IFSEA, the industry and Morrisville State.
A total of 16 students represented MSC during this year's IFSEA conference. Students were involved with planning and executing portions of the conference as well as presenting seminars.