Colleagues,
We are proud to announce the results of the 16th annual Massachusetts ProStart Student Invitational. Nearly 100 culinary students from 11 high schools participated in the competition! Cambridge Rindge School of Technical Arts won the culinary competition, with Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School of Rochester taking the management event. Those two schools qualified to compete in the 2024 National ProStart Student Invitational on April 26-28, in Baltimore.
Beatrice Ashley, a senior at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, won the cake decorating competition. Students on the winning teams also received scholarships from the MRAEF and top culinary schools, including Johnson & Wales University, Sullivan University, New York Culinary Institute and Virginia Culinary Institute.
MAVA is most proud of these incredibly talented Chapter 74 Culinary Arts students.
David
Students from 11 Vocational Technical high schools compete in statewide culinary event at Gillette Stadium
Joanna K. Tzouvelis Wicked Local
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FOXBOROUGH — Nearly 100 culinary students from 11 high schools were put to the test this week at the 16th annual Massachusetts ProStart Student Invitational (MAPSI).
The event, held Feb. 27 at Gillette Stadium, was hosted by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association Education Fund MRAEF). Competitors had an hour to decorate cakes, an hour to prepare a three-course meal and seven minutes to present a plan for a new restaurant concept.
Cambridge Rindge and Latin won the culinary competition, with Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School of Rochester taking the management event. Those two schools qualified to compete in the 2024 National ProStart Student Invitational on April 26-28, in Baltimore.
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<![endif]>Students on those teams also received scholarships from the MRAEF and top culinary schools, including Johnson & Wales University, Sullivan University, New York Culinary Institute and Virginia Culinary Institute.
‘Open book’ concept wins cake decorating competition
Beatrice Ashley, a senior at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, won the cake decorating competition. She created an open book-shaped cake, with a fondant figurine of Remy — the rat character from the movie, “Ratatouille” — and a hunk of swiss cheese.
“I knew I wanted to do something abstract with the cake," Ashley said. "I’ve seen people turn cakes into books before, so I tried to do it with a circle cake and figured out I could and it grew from there."
Ashley was competing in the ProStart Invitational for the third time. She was a member of Old Colony’s winning management team in 2022, which went on to place sixth nationally.
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Students challenged by new kitchens, big audience
Students spent months preparing for this competition, although several said the greatest challenge wasn’t necessarily the time limit, but just being in a new kitchen and being watched by a crowd of judges and spectators. Celebrities on hand included retired Patriots safety Patrick Chung, who served as a taster and has a passion for cooking.
“It’s very impressive with all these kids coming out here today and showing their true passion for cooking,” the three-time Super Bowl champ told Wicked Local. “I watch the Food Network every day. Hats off to them. There’s a lot of pressure on them. They look very calm and know what to do.”
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Old Colony, Cambridge R&L head for the nationals
Emily Silvia, of Lakeville, a member of Old Colony’s culinary team, which placed second in its competition, said she learned about all the things that can go wrong and to be a little more confident.
“It was stressful, but overall, I’m very proud of my team and how we did,” she said.
There were many tears of joy and hugs shared when the announcement was made that Cambridge Rindge and Latin won the culinary team competition.
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Mahelet Snake, of Cambridge Rindge and Latin’s culinary team, was shocked that her team took first, as it was its first time competing in the ProStart Invitational.
The winning meal they prepared was Anjou and endive salad with pan-seared breast of duck, domestic porterhouse lamb shops and petit gateau fondant au chocolate.
To see the complete list of winners, visit the Massachusetts Restaurant Association’s Facebook page.
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira
