Paige Glennerster of William Floyd High School was the winner of a culinary competition for high school students held on May 3, 2011 at Suffolk County Community College's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center in Riverhead. As the winner of this competition, Ms. Glennerster will receive a Culinary Arts scholarship (valued at $1,500) to attend Suffolk County Community College's Culinary Arts and Hospitality degree program.
Eleven Suffolk County high school students participated in the competition. Each student utilized a modern culinary work station and was given one whole chicken, baby potatoes and string beans. From these basic ingredients, each student created an imaginative meal ready to serve in one and a half hours. Students currently enrolled in the SCCC culinary program assisted the contestants, providing spices and additional condiments as needed by the young chefs. The final meals were judged by five chef/instructors for taste, appearance, creativity, culinary technique, use of ingredients and cleanliness of work station, with points awarded in each category.
Ms. Glennerster's winning dish was composed of rosemary and thyme infused airline chicken breast with herb au jus, served with a potato and carrot risotto and sauteed green beans. This young chef aspires to continue her education after SCCC and one day own a restaurant or catering business in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she also hopes to teach culinary arts.
Jonathon Salgado of Valley Stream Central High School was awarded second place in the competition and Jessica Melendez of Sachem High School East finished in third place.
Boasting 28,000-square-feet of beautifully designed space, the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center at Suffolk County Community College is widely recognized as the premier culinary instructional facility on Long Island.