Wilbur Cross Does CT Proud In Culinary Competition

NEW HAVEN — One New Haven high school has something to boast about when it comes to the school's top-notch culinary arts program.

The Connecticut ProStart State Champions, Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, placed fourth in the nation in the Restaurant Management Competition at the 2022 National ProStart Invitational last weekend in Washington, DC.

ProStart is the nation’s top high school culinary arts and restaurant management competition.
The Wilbur Cross team represented the state of Connecticut, joining more than 80 teams from across the country to vie for top high school culinary and restaurant management honors, as well as nearly $200,000 in scholarships to support students’ future aspirations in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Overall, the Wilbur Cross culinary team placed 11th out of 42 teams, the highest the Connecticut team has placed since 2009.

With the fourth place restaurant management finish, each student received a $3,000 scholarship from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

Wilbur Cross students Charlotte Beterbaugh, Jailyn Gonzalez, Paulette Jara, Rosemarilyn Rodriguez and Erik Baca as the team manager presented the restaurant concept "Sakana," a purpose-driven, freestanding, contemporary casual restaurant offering only sustainably farmed seafood.
The team had to present its business proposal to the judges through a series of “Shark Tank”-like interactions where they were asked to elaborate on their concept, menu, how they would market the restaurant and think quickly to answer a variety of critical thinking questions.

“We are always so proud to support Connecticut students as they participate in the National ProStart Invitational, an event which allows them to showcase their hard work in front of top industry professionals,” said Jennifer Conkling-Schmitz, foundation director, of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. “This event takes an incredible amount of dedication and preparation. The students were focused, while also having a lot of fun. I could see their excitement build as they believed they had what it takes to get on stage at the awards dinner. Kudos to their educators and mentors for preparing these students and helping them to believe in themselves.”

Meanwhile, Wilbur Cross culinary team students, Daisy Galicia, Arianna Gordon, Antonio Mandania, Natalie Quiroz and Christopher Ramirez, prepared a three-course meal in less than 60 minutes over two butane burners. The team was judged on taste and presentation, cooking technique, knife skills, difficulty of menu and safety and sanitation.

Competing against 41 other states, the 11th-place overall finish is the highest Connecticut has finished in the culinary competition since 2009.
“This was a great weekend for the Connecticut hospitality industry,” said Scott Dolch, President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. “The hospitality industry accounts for 10 percent of Connecticut’s economy, employing tens of thousands of state residents from all walks of life. For many students, their career path can and does start through programs and competitions such as this, as they learn the necessary skills for entering the restaurant business and workforce.”

The following sponsors have helped support the Connecticut ProStart team from Wilbur Cross High School as they traveled to the National ProStart Invitational: Subway restaurant chain, 85th Day Restaurant Group, Performance Food Group, DORO Restaurant Group, the Hartford Yard Goats, Sysco CT, Russell Hall Co. and Sardilli Produce.

To learn more about the 2022 National ProStart Invitational, visit ChooseRestaurants.org/ProStart.