WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Pennsylvania College of Technology recently announced the winners of its annual Food Show.
The Food Show provides a venue for students to share their final projects in several courses and to gain feedback from industry professionals who judge their work. At the same time, it offers a learning experience for high school students interested in hospitality-related careers, who make a visit to the show as part of a daylong campus experience.
Earning the Chef Eugene Mattucci Best of Show Award was an entry from the Advanced Garde Manger class by culinary arts technology students Chelsea L. Gray, of Marysville, and Summer L. Showers, of Aspers. The pair created a “Game Meats From the Hunt” platter and charcuterie board, featuring a snap pea salad topped with lemon zest, smoked feta and a lemon mustard vinaigrette and paired with grilled quail; pate en croute, featuring venison and pork that was hunted, butchered and packaged by the students’ families; cured and smoked pheasant; and a cold-smoked feta.
The Best of Show Award is named for the late chef/owner of Mattucci’s Italian Restaurant in Mount Carmel. Mattucci was a longtime Penn College advisory committee member and Food Show judge.
Other classes entering final projects were Advanced Breads, Classical and Specialty Desserts Presentation, and Principles of Chocolate Works courses.
The projects were judged by Patrick J. Kelly II, a 2015 Penn College culinary arts and systems graduate and chef de cuisine for Herman & Luther’s in Montoursville; Samantha L. Liedtka-Gundlach, a 2010 Penn College baking and pastry arts graduate and owner of Samantha’s Kitchen in Lock Haven; and Sue L. Mayer, a 1985 graduate of the college’s food and hospitality management major, owner of Grammy Sue’s Cakes and Cookies, and a retired faculty member.
In addition, students from the Hospitality Beverage Management Service and Controls course provided demonstrations and samples of nonalcoholic mixed drinks, giving visitors to the Food Show the opportunity to vote for their favorite.
Winners from each course and their hometowns are:
Advanced Breads — First place: Ally T. Monborne, of Williamsport; second place: George E. Logue, of Montoursville; third place, Carrie M. Phillips, of Trout Run; honorable mentions: Ashley L. Yancey, of Abington, and Kobi A. Shannon, of Lewistown.
Advanced Garde Manger — First place: Gray and Showers (who also received Best in Show); second place: Janelle R. Becker, of Fort Loudon, and Kobi A. Shannon, of Lewistown; third place: Angela M. Linde, of Harrisburg, and Garrett E. Mottern, of Hughesville.
Classical and Specialty Dessert Presentation — First place: Danielle R. Wesneski, of Williamsport; second place: Tyler C. Geer, of Williamsport; third place: Cyril L. Hunter, of Hughesville.
Hospitality Beverage Management Service and Controls — First place team: Ireland Q. Hastings, of Shippensburg, and Lukas J. Seyler, of Williamsport; second place team: Rebecca L. Chapman, of Gilbertsville, Mallory A. Hoffman, of Pottsville, and Nicole L. Sherman, of Towanda.
Principles of Chocolate Works — First place: Sarah A. Bryan, of Bellefonte; second place: Madeline J. Novack, of Selinsgrove; third place: Danielle R. Wesneski, of Williamsport; honorable mention: Cyril L. Hunter, of Hughesville.
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, visit www.pct.edu/bh or call 570-327-4505.
For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.