Newport Harbor High School wins third place at national culinary competition

(SACRAMENTO, May 5, 2010) – Orange County’s Newport Harbor High School earned third place in the culinary event at the 2010 National ProStart Invitational, presented by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. The event showcased the talents of top ProStart students from across the country, with the winning students on the top five teams in the culinary and management competition categories taking home $1.4 million in scholarships, medals and prizes. Scholarships were provided by the NRAEF and the Coca-Cola Co., the premier sponsor of the event, along with leading colleges and universities.

Representing Newport Harbor High School, Gabriela Gomez, Jessenia Hernandez, Eduardo Medina and Edgardo Meza competed under the guidance of instructor Janet Dukes and mentor Emeliano Nino of Watermark Grill. To qualify for the national competition, the team won first place in the state competition held in March.

“We are elated and so proud of Newport Harbor’s success on the national stage,” said Alycia Harshfield, executive director of the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. “Having witnessed how hard these students have worked and grown this year, I can say that no team is more deserving of the honor and recognition.”

In the national competition, the team prepared a starter, entrée and dessert within 60 minutes using only two butane burners, and was judged on categories including taste, knife skills, safety, sanitation and teamwork. The Newport Harbor team worked for months to hone their menu, which included an ahi tartar, spiced lamb tenderloin with saffron couscous and a white chocolate Bavarian cream.

More than 300 students competed at the three-day competition, held April 30 to May 2 in Overland Park, Kan.  Thirty-nine student teams demonstrated their culinary skills in the fast-paced competition before more than 800 fellow students, educators, mentors, state restaurant association executives, and board members of the National Restaurant Association and NRAEF.

About the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation: CRAEF has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and grants since its inception in 1981. CRAEF works to enhance education and training programs within the hospitality industry. ProStart is a two-year program designed to prepare high school juniors and seniors for exciting careers in foodservice. The career-building program blends classroom learning with mentored work experience to teach high school students the management and culinary skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. For more information, go online at www.calrest.org/craef