A-B Tech Culinary Team Wins State Competition
A-B Tech Community College’s award-winning student culinary team was named the North Carolina champion November 22, 2014 after winning gold in team competition hosted at A-B Tech’s Asheville campus.
A team of five students will compete January in Atlanta at the American Culinary Federation’s Southeast Regional conference. Members are captain Nina Esquire, Sarah Keeney, Carolina Huerta, Madelyn Stroud, and Natalie Britton.
“The team was commended by the judges for exceptional teamwork and skills,” said team coach and Culinary Instructor Dean Neff. “This team is so committed to the craft of cooking that win or lose it will be exciting to see the mark they make culinary world in their careers. The heart that the team has is a sight to behold. You have to see it to believe it.”
The competition requires student teams to demonstrate butchery and knife skills and then prepare a four-course signature meal. A-B Tech teams have been ranked six times in the past 10 years as one of the top four nationally in the competition. A-B Tech competed against student culinary teams from Alamance Community College, Central Piedmont Community College and Fayetteville Technical Community College.
“Our team displayed all the attributes of being great professionals in their chosen field. They were gracious hosts, great competitors and showed a tremendous amount of skill and determination while competing. Their dedication to the college and each other is inspiring to all of us,” said Matthew Tracy, Director and Chair of Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts.
About A-B Tech Community College
A-B Tech offers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in more 50 curriculum programs through its five academic divisions: Allied Health and Public Service Education, Arts and Sciences, Business and Hospitality Education, Emergency Services and Engineering and Applied Technology.
The Division of Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education offers opportunities for workforce partnerships, specific job training and retraining, as well as personal enrichment classes. A-B Tech enrolls more than 25,000 curriculum and continuing education students in programs at its Asheville, Enka, Madison, South, Woodfin and Goodwill locations.
For more information, please visit www.abtech.edu.
