NJRHA Announce Culinary & Hospitality Winners of ProStart Invitational

The New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association (NJRHA) hosted their annual “ProStart Invitational” at The Grand Marquis in Old Bridge in February. The statewide culinary and restaurant management competition among high school students is a rivalry for thousands of dollars in scholarships to the top culinary and hospitality schools on the East Coast. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, guests were not permitted to the competition.

Student teams from around New Jersey competed in either a rigorous "Top Chef"-style culinary arts competition or tested their business acumen with a "Shark Tank"-like restaurant management contest. The culinary students worked in teams based on schools to develop a three-course, fine-dining meal in under 60 minutes without the use of electricity. Judging was led by acclaimed New Jersey industry professionals who took care to note knife skills, flavor combinations, food safety, presentation, recipe formulation, and teamwork. Those students studying restaurant management also worked in school-based teams but were judged on their inventive business plans.

“This year’s ProStart invitational was a complete success,” said NJRHA President and CEO Dana Lancellotti. “The students were driven and determined as they developed and created some of the most inventive projects we have seen.”

Each group had 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winners, who were presented with trophies during the Awards Dinner that followed the competition. The winners are:

Hospitality management:

3rd Place Management: Paramus High School

2nd Place Management: Bergen County Academies

1st Place Management: Mercer County Technical Schools

Student Team: Yailene Caraballo, Francia Auguste, Kayla Corrigan, Jade Irizarry

Teacher: Rory Philipson

Concept: Soignee – A swanky beachside French Restaurant with 1920s art deco décor and a menu featuring braised lamb shank and coq au vin.

Culinary:

3rd Place Culinary: Paramus High School

2nd Place Culinary: Mercer County Technical Schools

1st Place Culinary: Passaic County Technical Institute

Student Team: Alexa Urteaga, Dava Wozniak, Isabella Macaluso, Salma Garcia, Joshua Chacon

Teacher: Ron Ossi

Mentor: Mya Organisciak

Students prepared a three-course meal consisting of sticky pork belly with cheddar polenta, pan-seared duck breast with Dijon peppercorn sauce, and a white chocolate blueberry mousse with honey-lime ice cream.

Additionally, Chef Ron Ossi of Passaic County Technical Institute was awarded the New Jersey ProStart Educator of the Year and will be honored and celebrated by the National Restaurant Association in Las Vegas in July.

The two 1st Place teams not only receive scholarships, but they will go on to represent the state of New Jersey when they compete at the National ProStart Invitational in Washington, D.C., this spring.

“The NJRHA is proud to send these incredibly talented students to Nationals to represent our great state,” said Lancellotti. “We can’t wait for the D.C. judges to see what these New Jersey teams can do.”

About New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association

New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association (NJRHA) was founded in 1942 to support, educate and advocate on behalf of the hospitality industry throughout the state. Representing over 25,000 foodservice establishments and 350,000 employees, NJRHA represents the state’s largest private-sector employer and generates $18.1 billion in tax revenue for the state. Visit www.njrha.org

Photo Credit:

Provided by the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association