USA PEARS CULINARY COMPETITION INSPIRES SAVORY TO SWEET CREATIONS
Culinary Institute of America Student Earns Top Prize in Third Annual Event
Portland, Oregon - May 18, 2011 – Three U.S. culinary students created recipes using fresh USA Pears, earning them a trip to Portland, Oregon to prepare their dishes for a panel of judges. Chosen from over 100 student entries from around the country, the top three students recently competed American Idol-style at Portland’s Le Cordon Bleu with an appetizer, an entrée, and a breakfast recipe featuring fresh USA Pears.
Student Charles O’Neill of the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park campus, took top honors from the judges to win a scholarship prize of $2,500, as well as the People’s Choice award from the audience, with his “Pomegranate Pear French Toast.” It may have been just the right balance of flavors and texture with the Challah bread stuffed with cream cheese and pears poached in pomegranate juice that convinced the judges and the audience; or perhaps it was the jug of real maple syrup Charles carried from his home in Massachusetts.
Student Jacqui Wou of Santa Barbara City College in California earned the second place prize of a $1,000 scholarship for her sweet and savory “Perfectly ‘Peared’ Lamb,” a multi-faceted entrée with Chianti-poached pears, seared lamb, potatoes “Anna” and a sauce with figs, Meyer lemon and tart cherries.
Student Michelle Soto of Le Cordon Bleu in Portland was awarded a $500 scholarship for her Northwest-inspired “Savory Pear and Basil Mini Cheesecake” appetizer layered with a pear onion marmalade, a filling of three cheeses, and a Hazelnut crust.
All entries were awarded points in the following categories: prominent use of fresh pears, originality, creativity, appearance, texture and taste. Each of the three finalists prepared their dishes and presented them to the panel of judges, Mary Petersen, President of the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education; Chef David Anderson of Genoa in Portland; and Chef DJ Wendeborn, Lead Chef Instructor at Le Cordon Bleu. The judges scored each dish and gave comments to the students, in an American Idol-style event.
Each of the finalists’ schools, along with host school, Le Cordon Bleu, received a donation to their respective scholarship funds from the Pear Bureau Northwest.
About Pear Bureau Northwest
The Pear Bureau Northwest is a non-profit marketing organization established in 1931 to promote, advertise and develop markets for pears grown in the states of Washington and Oregon, under the USA Pear brand. The Bureau represents more than 1,600 growers and 55 packers who produce approximately 84 percent of the nation’s fresh pear crop, and develops national and international markets for Northwest pear distribution. For more information about USA Pears, contact the Pear Bureau Northwest at 503-652-9720 or visit the website at www.usapears.org.
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Contact:
Contact: Susan Renke
Food Marketing Resources
503-908-1114
susan@foodmktg.com
Pear Bureau Northwest prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, political beliefs, or disability. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the Pear Bureau at (503) 652-9720.