Colleagues,
The Elegant Chef, Nashoba Valley Technical High School’s in-school restaurant, continued its winning ways with a first-place award at the annual Taste of Nashoba.
David
Nashoba Tech students win regional culinary contest – again
Nashoba Tech students who won Best Entrée at the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Nashoba, and took second prize in Best Presentation, include, front from left, Alexis Fillebrown of Pepperell, Haley Garcia of Pepperell, and Karina Favreau of Littleton; and back row, Keash Hardin of Westford, Noah Nickerson of Westford, Rafe Drew of Ayer, Ethan Cockin of Pepperell, Seamus O’Neill of Chelmsford, and Sarah Bartos of Chelmsford.
WESTFORD — The Elegant Chef, Nashoba Valley Technical High School’s in-school restaurant, continued its winning ways with a first-place award at the annual Taste of Nashoba.
Taste of Nashoba, one of the major fundraising events hosted by the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, was held March 19 at Lawrence Academy in Groton.
Nashoba Tech received the top prize for Best Entrée – Roasted Beef Tenderloin, Gorgonzola Polenta Cake with a Fresh Thyme Mushroom Red Wine Demi. Second prize went to The Jolly Lobster in Lowell.
The Elegant Chef, operated by students in Nashoba Tech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management programs, also won second prize for Best Presentation, just behind Peppers Artful Events of Northboro.
Taste of Nashoba showcases the best restaurants, caterers, bakeries, and breweries from across the region. The Elegant Chef was one of 36 food-service establishments to compete at the event.
Nashoba Tech is no stranger to the winner’s circle, winning several times over the last 20 years for Best Entrée.
The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard
“The kids did an amazing job and created a delicious, three-course meal,” Chef-Instructor Carley Capraro said. “I’m very proud of everything they created that evening.”
Students who participated are Sarah Bartos (sophomore, Chelmsford), Ethan Cockin (junior, Pepperell), Rafe Drew (junior, Ayer), Karina Favreau (junior, Littleton), Alexis Fillebrown (junior, Pepperell), Haley Garcia (junior, Pepperell), Keash Hardin (junior, Westford), Noah Nickerson (junior, Westford) and Seamus O’Neill (junior, Chelmsford). Capraro was joined by Chef-Instructor Paul Wilson and Chef-Instructor Jeremy Bussiere at the event.
Nashoba Tech also competed in the Appetizer category with Homemade Fresh Mozzarella, Roma Tomato Bruschetta, Balsamic Glaze and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and in the Dessert category, with Lemon Zeppole served with Zabaione and Raspberry Yuzo Lemon Coulis.
Meanwhile, Sarah Bartos won the cake-decorating contest at the annual ProStart Student Invitational, hosted each year by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association at Patriots Place in Foxboro.
This year’s event was held Feb. 27, and Capraro brought a Nashoba Tech contingent to compete.
In other Nashoba Tech Culinary Arts news, 2023 graduate Julianna Abel spoke March 26 at the Massachusetts Restaurant Association’s second annual Women in Hospitality Conference.
Just a year removed from high school, Juliana, a freshman at Johnson & Wales University, was invited to speak at the conference after impressing several MRA officials at the 2023 ProStart Student Invitational.
“She was such a strong presence at ProStart that they asked her to speak as a recent graduate and a woman in the industry,” Capraro said. “I am so proud of her. I always told her she was going to go far.”
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira
