Woodbridge Students Among Winners Of Vo-Tech Cook-Off Challenge

Two Woodbridge students, along with their teammates from Perth Amboy and Sayreville, won gold medals at the annual County Vocational‐Technical School Cook‐Off Challenge.

The students, who attend the Perth Amboy campus of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools, were judged by Atlantic City chefs at the May 8 event sponsored by the New Jersey Association of Counties at Caesar’s in Atlantic City, according to a news release from the school district.

According to the news release:

Seniors Rebecca Cho of the Colonia section of Woodbridge and Michelle Montiel of Perth Amboy, juniors Alexis Mazurek of the Hopelawn section of Woodbridge, and Travis Campbell of Sayreville, and sophomores Gabrielle Gonzalez and Enmanuel Herrera, both of Perth Amboy competed in the event against teams from 11 counties.

They won the gold in “Plate Presentation” and “Taste” categories, as judged by the professional chefs, and a bronze medal in the judging done by conference attendees.

The students had to make 400 appetizers on a $500 budget, then present them creatively. The Perth Amboy team made braised short ribs with red wine-pickled caramelized onions, taleggio cheese, roasted shiitake aioli and arugula on a pretzel bun with homemade chips dusted with bacon and tomato powder.

“I want to thank my students for being professional, organized and, most of all, for working as a team to achieve success,” culinary arts instructor Stephen J. Moir said in a prepared statement. “I am very proud of their efforts before, during and after the competition.”

Earlier this month, Montiel won third place and an $1,800 scholarship in a culinary competition among 20 students at the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia. She will be attend that school in the fall.

Photo courtesy Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools