Fall Food Show winners announced at Penn College

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Pennsylvania College of Technology announced winners of its Fall Food Show, held Dec. 1 at the college.

Earning the Chef Eugene Mattucci Best of Show Award was the student duo of Ashley R. Potrzebowski, of Williamsport, and Kelsie F. Thomas, of Darby, for their “Beer & Pub Style Christmas” platter and charcuterie board. Their entry, completed as a final project for the Advanced Garde Manger course, included a salad of kale, dried cranberries and pecans with orange vinaigrette; haymarket pate en croute with sage-infused aspic; cured and smoked turkey breast; onion chutney; and beer cheese dip with garlic-butter pretzel bites. Both students are pursuing degrees in culinary arts technology.

The Food Show is hosted by the college’s School of Business & Hospitality to showcase the talents of its students, who presented final projects in the Advanced Garde Manger, Classical and Specialty Desserts Presentation, and Principles of Chocolate Works courses. In all, 37 entries were judged.

In addition, culinary arts students provided live cooking demonstrations, and students in the Hospitality Beverage Management Service and Controls course gave a mixology demonstration with a nonalcoholic coffee drink.

Judges for the event were Chef James Fry, Chef Heather Luse and Chef Kris Patterson. Luse and Patterson work for the Penn State Bakery. All three are members of the college’s Hospitality Advisory Committee.

Winners in each class and their hometowns are:

• Advanced Garde Manger — First place: Thomas and Potrzebowski (who also received Best in Show); second place: Alyssa L. Casler, of Barnesville, and Kiesha M. Sheffer, of Eldred; third place: Jacob W. Parobek, of Seltzer, and Erik L. Perry Jr., of Waldorf, Maryland.
• Classical and Specialty Dessert Presentation — First place: Somer A. Safford, of Port Allegany; second place: Sarah A. Waclo, of York; third place: Bethany R. Taylor, of Moosic; honorable mention: Amber A. Kreitzer, of Port Trevorton.
• Principles of Chocolate Works — First place: Erica L. Breski, of Harrisburg; second place: Rachel A. Henninger, of Bellefonte; third place: Amber A. Kreitzer, of Port Trevorton; honorable mention: Kiesha M. Sheffer, of Eldred.

Penn College offers hospitality-related associate degrees in baking and pastry arts, culinary arts technology and hospitality management. Its bachelor’s degree offerings include culinary arts and systems, business administration: sport and event management, and applied management.

To learn more about hospitality majors at Penn College, visit www.pct.edu/hospitality or call 570-327-4505.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.