Culinary teams from placed first and second in the biennial Â鶹´«Ã½ Culinary Competition Expo and Salon. The event, sanctioned by the American Culinary Federation (ACF), showcased culinary student and professional talents in three categories—cold food, hot food and pastries.
Â鶹´«Ã½’s culinary team 1 included students, Kimberly Lim, Qihao “Sam” Tan, Sean Uyehara, Jeremy David and Christian Rae Wong. Culinary team 2 included students, Kyungsuk “Katie” Lee, Keane Aranita, Dongsun Kim, Richard Lee and Jarred Obata. The instructor for both teams was Chef .
Approximately 53 students and 7 professionals vied in this year’s competition. Competitors included participants from , and Kapiʻolani Community Colleges; Waipahu High?School and 2 branches of the military.
- Related: November 29, 2016
Five members will be selected from Kapiʻolani’s first and second place team to compete as Team Â鶹´«Ã½ and represent the state at the ACF Western Regional Culinary Salon Competition ?at Salon? In Joliet, Illinois, February 3–5.
Competition highlights
Kapiʻolani CC alumna Woraporn Martinez won a gold medal for her pastillage, The Temple of King Rama IV and Tiffany Tan also won a gold for her pastillage, Spirit House. The show-stopper and gold winner was Kapiʻolani CC Chef David Brown for his Christmas Centerpiece of pastillage with gingerbread overlay.
The cold foods were eye-appealing and rich with color enhancements, like Megumi Murano’s beet-colored stuffed eggs. The hot food category were also crowd pleasers, like Christopher Corpuz from Kauaʻi CC with his macadamia nut crusted lamb with a red wine lamb reduction. Shaylyn Funasaki, from Leeeward CC, won gold with her kampachi nitsuke, chawan mushi, cha soba and miso namasu.
During the awards ceremony, , Kapiʻolani CC chair commented that the entries were exceptional and each entry showed the dedication and artistry of participants. “In my mind every entry is a winner,” said Takahashi
Judges were certified chefs from the American Culinary Federation—Stafford DeCambra, Douglas Fisher and Derek Spendlove. The sponsors included HFM Food Service, Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.
—By Louise Yamamoto
