First Place: Le Petit Gourmet
Second Place: South Eugene High School
Third Place: Lowell High School
Thirteen teams of high school students, working with local professional chefs, prepared and presented entrées featuring buffalo ribeye and a dessert featuring chocolate. Buffalo was donated by Paul Neibergs of Big Valley Buffalo, produce by Organically Grown Company and chocolate by Callebaut Chocolate through GloryBee Foods. “It’s great to have local product used in the competition!” stated Mark Wreath of Lane ESD. “I make an effort to contact local companies for product donations and sponsorship to help with the event.” Event sponsors included GloryBee Foods, Market of Choice and Comcast.
Each team had 60 minutes to prepare, cook and serve three taste plates and one show plate. Teams were judged on sanitation, knife skills, teamwork, presentation and most importantly taste! A panel of local celebrities and professionals in the culinary arts field served as judges.
Over 200 people were present for the awards dinner, which featured the same ingredients as those used in the competition. The evening began with recognition of the event sponsors, followed by individual recognition of chef coaches, who were given commemorative plaques. Each culinary instructor was given a butane burner for their classrooms, courtesy of Curtis Restaurant Equipment. Each student participant received a participation medallion.
Before the day’s top winners were announced, Wreath said “If there is one thing I would like all you students to hear tonight, it is that you are all winners for taking this event on. I want you to feel honored for your dedication, commitment and quality of your performance throughout this competition.”
Best Show Plate
Lowell High School
- Jessica Watkins
- Jessica Oberst
- Sarah Andrews
- Jessica Graham
- Advisor: Rene Huerta
- Chef: Ronda Dietrick, Market of Choice
Best Dessert
Lowell High School
- Jessica Watkins
- Jessica Oberst
- Sarah Andrews
- Jessica Graham
- Advisor: Rene Huerta
- Chef: Ronda Dietrick, Market of Choice
Best Entrée
South Eugene High School
- Emma Olsen
- Nic Ihnat
- Kolby Brandon
- Gordon Ellis
- Advisor: Gregory Dunkin
- Chef: Rocky Maselli, Marche
Best Teamwork
Le Petit Gourmet
- Osana Waterstone
- Joss Ayres-Sims
- Carly Rogers
- Sophia Dixon
- Advisor: Dena Stewart
- Chef: William Mahoney, Work Café
Overall Winners
- 1st Place: Le Petit Gourmet
- 2nd Place: South Eugene High School
- 3rd Place: Lowell High School
Coach Chefs
Michael Thieme (Sweetwaters), Frank Beber (Shadow Hills Country Club), Rocky Maselli (Marché), Scott Whitus (Café Soriah), Zach Reichert (Market of Choice), William Mahoney (World Market), Jason Houck (Market of Choice), Scott Trempe (Shadow Hills Country Club), Ronda Dietrick (Market of Choice), Steve Eproson (El Viquero), Richard Pool (Cascade Manor), David Martin, Brian Kelly (LCC)
Event Judges
Pat Truanski (GloryBee Foods), Keith Ellis (Cooks, Pots and Tabletops), Bonnie Willis (Market of Choice), Adam Bernstein (Adam’s Place/Luna), Al Peterson (KEZI News), Tracy Berry (New Country 93.3), Gary Rodgers (Shadow Hills County Club), Paula Westgate (LCC), Duane Partain (LCC), Robin Johnson (LCC), Curtis Johnston (6th Street Bar & Grill), and Patti Curfman (Patti Cakes)
Team sponsors
Lane Workforce Partnership, Eugene Hilton, Tyson Foods, Dari-Mart, Valley River Inn, Farwest Steel, Twin Rivers Plumbing, Chemeketa Community College, Food Services of America, Lane ESD, Western Culinary Institute
Event sponsors
Lane ESD, GloryBee Foods, Comcast, Market of Choice, Big Valley Buffalo, New Country 93.9, LCC Hospitality Programs, KEZI News, Organically Grown Company, and Callebaut Chocolate
