Culinary Team From Canton, Management Team From Saginaw Win State Culinary Competition

LANSING –  A culinary team from Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton and the management team from Saginaw Career Complex took first place in their respective disciplines at the Michigan ProStart Competition held earlier this month. Both will now compete in the national finals in Dallas.

Sixty-four (64) teams representing 20 career and technical centers from across Michigan competed in six disciplines during the two day event: culinary, management, nutrition, knowledge bowl, table top design, and menu design. Industry professionals as well as leading college and university instructors observed and rated all portions of the competition.

“We’re so proud of all the teams in this year’s competition,” said Ken Wasco, MRA ESF Board Chairman.  “They represent the brightest and best talent from across the state and truly are tomorrow’s industry leaders.  The winners will serve as ambassadors of the State of Michigan’s foodservice industry at the National Invitational, and we are confident they will represent our state well.” 

The winning culinary team, Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (Canton), prepared a three-course meal – 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. The team had one hour and only two butane burners to complete their meal.

Saginaw Career Complex (Saginaw), the winning management team, developed a comprehensive plan for Stars and Stripes, a casual dining, non-profit restaurant that trains veterans and ProStart students for careers in the restaurant industry.  They made a verbal presentation and applied critical thinking skills to questions about challenges restaurant managers face in day-to-date operations.

The winner of the ServSafe knowledge bowl was Branch Area Careers Center Team B (Coldwater). The winner of the nutrition competition was Oakland Technical Campus Northwest (Pontiac). The winner of the menu design competition was Branch Area Careers Center Team A (Coldwater). The winner of the tabletop design competition was Branch Area Careers Center (Coldwater).

The top teams divided more than $800,000 in scholarships to help the students pursue careers in the foodservice industry.

The Michigan ProStart Competition owes a great deal of its success to its generous sponsors. The culinary discipline was sponsored by Sysco of Michigan and the management discipline was sponsored by Gordon Food Service. Van Eerden Foodservice sponsored the ServSafe Knowledge Bowl. Other sponsors included: Cleary University, Coca-Cola, Michael’s & Associates, US Foods, and Valley City Linen.

The final standings for the Michigan ProStart Competition 2016: 

Culinary Discipline

First Place – Plymouth-Canton Educational Park; Canton, MI

Second Place – West Shore ESD; Ludington, MI

Third Place – SWWC @ Saline High School; Saline, MI

Fourth Place – LISD TECH Center; Adrian, MI

Fifth Place – Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest; Pontiac, MI

Management Discipline

First Place – Saginaw Career Complex; Saginaw, MI

Second Place – Plymouth-Canton Educational Park; Canton, MI

Third Place – Branch Area Careers Center; Coldwater, MI

Fourth Place – SWWC @ Saline High School; Saline, MI

Fifth Place – LISD TECH Center; Adrian, MI

Nutrition Discipline

First Place – Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest; Pontiac, MI

Second Place – Plymouth-Canton Educational Park; Canton, MI

Third Place – Bay Arenac ISD; Bay City, MI

ServSafe Knowledge Bowl

First Place – Branch Area Careers Center Team B; Coldwater, MI

Second Place – Branch Area Careers Center Team A; Coldwater, MI

Third Place – Careerline Tech Center Team A; Holland, MI

Fourth Place – West Shore ESD; Ludington, MI

Fifth Place – Careerline Tech Center Team B; Holland, MI

Menu Design

First Place – Branch Area Careers Center Team A; Coldwater, MI

Second Place – Iosco RESA; Tawas City, MI

Third Place – Branch Area Careers Center Team B; Coldwater, MI             

Tabletop Design

First Place – Branch Area Careers Center; Coldwater, MI

Second Place – Bay Arenac ISD; Bay City, MI

Third Place – Clare-Gladwin RESA; Clare, MI

ProStart is a nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and industry to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice leaders. In Michigan, 68 high schools and career centers use the ProStart curriculum with 5,000 students participating. For more information about ProStart, contact Amanda Smith at 800-968-9668, visit michiganrestaurant.org/prostart, or find us on Twitter and Facebook. 

Michigan Restaurant Association provides essential services to the foodservice community.  Founded in 1921, the MRA represents nearly 4,500 Michigan foodservice establishments. The industry plays an integral role in Michigan’s economy, employing more than 421,000 people and creating $15.4 billion in annual sales.