AiP Winter '07 Pairs Competition

This quarter’s competition was the newly designed “Pairs Competition”. Instead of individuals competing against each other, this was the coupling of two students competing as a team and the “mystery basket” concept was replaced with a list of key ingredients that the teams each knew of in advance. They were required to design 2 plate ups each of an appetizer and an entrée. They started the morning with a half hour knife skills competition and then a one and a half hour time limit to complete their 2 plates. They were staggered in 15 minute intervals and with 12 pairs competing, all three kitchens were filled.

It was an amazing site to witness. Every burner on every stove was teeming over with sauté pans and pots as each team were boiling, poaching and searing. The menu items ran the gamut from quiche and filled profiteroles to double farce techniques. Gnocci, shish kebobs and raviolis, the variety was mind boggling. Perfectly cooked vegetables were stacked and tied up with green onion ribbon. Sauces were swirled, dotted and layered in every color and flavor you could image. Each plate was a work of art.

Chef Sally, Chef Randy and Chef Schmucker had the daunting task of judging all of these items. The point spread between all twelve contestants was so close, one tiny miscue was all it took to knock any one team out of the running. Everyone brought their “A” game. The Chef’s were blown away with the level of talent all 12 teams brought to the competition and by the enthusiasm and professionalism each team exhibited.

There was a tie in the knife skills competition between Hillary Henderson and Amanda Doeppler who also took second place in the Pairs Competition. Erica Graham and Steve Varela took first place honors in the Pairs Competition. The winners each got to choose from a beautiful selection of professional knives.

Congratulations to the winners and to all 24 students who competed. They all did an outstanding job. It was a very proud moment for our department.

Lights, Camera, Action!!

Chef Odette Smith-Ransome has so many things going on, it’s hard to keep up with her. On this particular Saturday, I volunteered to help her out on her new TV production, having not a “clue” as to what was in store.

Our Baking and Pastry kitchen was literally transformed into a TV production studio. A crew of very professional students from The Art Institute set up shop in our kitchen with their lights, cameras and microphone booms. It was fascinating to watch. I was so impressed with these young men. I didn’t realize they were students until halfway through the shoot.

Chef Odette moved about the newly formed “set” with the easy of a seasoned veteran. She obviously has done this many times before. On this particular venture, she is filming the first in a series of cooking segments in which she will be a “detective” solving the mysteries of food. Today’s segment was about the mystery of sushi. She demonstrated how to make sushi and made some very beautiful examples. Assisting her on camera were Jonathan Hittinger and Tim Bower. They did an awesome job as the crew directed them through take after take. It’s a lot harder than it looks! There are so many things going on behind the scenes, it was really cool to watch. If anyone is interested in attending, Chef Odette will be filming the next segment February 10. You can be on camera or just work behind the scenes like I did. I helped prepare the food and design the set, it was an amazing learning experience. The show will be airing on WQED and if you help out, your name will appear in the credits! How cool is that? Who knows, you may find a new direction for your culinary career. You won’t know unless you check it!

Jonathan Hittinger and Tim Bower. They did an awesome job as the crew directed them through take after take. It’s a lot harder than it looks! There are so many things going on behind the scenes, it was really cool to watch.

If anyone is interested in attending, Chef Odette will be filming the next segment February 10. You can be on camera or just work behind the scenes like I did. I helped
prepare the food and design the set, it was an amazing learning experience. The show will be airing on WQED and if you help out, your name will appear in the credits! How cool is that? Who knows, you may find a new direction for your culinary career. You won’t know unless you check it!