Thursday, February 28, 2013

Meet our ProStart Teams!

The Wisconsin Restaurant Association ProStart Competition is right around the corner on March 12.  Check out our team members below!
Pulaski High School ProStart Hospitality and Management Team 

Pulaski High School ProStart Culinary Team 

"I Can't Eat That!" Cook-Off Challenge


For this "I Can't Eat That!" cook-off, groups were challenged to prepare an appetizer or dessert that had a dietary restriction.  Each group was randomly assigned to one of the following diets that are restricted in some capacity:
  • Gluten Free
  • Sugar Free
  • Lactose Free
  • Vegan
  • Peanut and tree-nut free
  • Egg-free
Students had to research and prepare a presentation that covered the following information:
  • General description and rationale as to why this diet would be used
  • % of US population affected by this diet
  • Foods to avoid
  • Harmful effects to the customer if foods to avoid are consumed
  • Menu that meets dietary restrictions, including an appetizer, main entree, and dessert.
Students planned their lab based on your appetizer or dessert used in their chosen menu, keeping in mind contaminants in their kitchen that could affect their dish (i.e. flour does not come in contact with any gluten free dish, etc)
Winner!
Gluten Free: Pear and Bacon Marscopone Pizza (Appetizer)










Tuesday, February 19, 2013

CA2 Open Cupboard Challenge...Impromptu Menu Item

As Culinary Arts 2 students are working through the National Restaurant Association's Marketing unit, they are creating a restaurant concept from scratch, including identifying their target markets, marketing strategies, and menu development.  For this challenge, students had to spontaneously create a menu item using ingredients found in our kitchen that would match their restaurant concept and could be prepared within the 50 minute class period.  The winner was a Breakfast Burger featuring an all-beef burger served on a toasted English muffin with a perfectly fried egg, cheese, and siracha sauce:

CA1 Chopped Cook-Off...Lactose-Free Style

Culinary Arts 1 students were presented with the "Chopped" challenge of preparing a lactose-free course within 40 minutes that contained 1 chicken breast and 1 apple.  The menu items were so fantastic that it was difficult to pick a winner!  In the end, Linguini and Italian-breaded chicken served with a sauce of sauteed red peppers and tomato/apple puree took the win.

Winner of the Chopped Lactose-Free Challenge






Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Soup for You! ProStart Faculty Luncheon



Thanks to everyone who dined with ProStart to help support the 2013 culinary and hospitality/management teams! The students catered to over 45 PCSD faculty members serving Zuppa Toscana, Potato-Bacon, and Minestrone soups with a side of freshly baked biscuits and eclairs for dessert.


 
 
  

All of the students from both Culinary 1 and 2 participated in the preparation and/or service of the luncheon and their dedicated work made the event a success!























Family Foods Butterscotch Gingerbread Cook-Off!

The Family Foods students finally had their first opportunity to join the ranks of the PHS culinary elite as they became members of the cook-off competitors at PHS preparing Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies (warm and delicious enough to melt anyone's heart)

HOUR 1 WINNERS!!!


HOUR 2 WINNERS!!! (and Mrs. Wojcik :))


HOUR 3 WINNERS!!!

Although we had our first winners, all of the Family Foods students were able to bake and enjoy their first complete recipe prepared in class.  What's for next week, you ask? A knife skills extravaganza!!! Students will be learning proper knife techniques including dicing, chopping, slicing, and mincing to prepare hash browns and then microwave apple crisp.  Pics and updates to come!




Friday, February 8, 2013

Crunchy Munchy Peanut Butter Deliciousness in Family Foods



Family Foods students learned the benefits of having complete recipes and using proper measurements by preparing Crunchy Munchy Peanut Butter Deliciousness where only the ingredients were listed without exact measurements.  Teams had to work together in determining the "right" proportions of each ingredient.  The good news?  Unlike most recipes, it will be delicious any way you make it (just don't go crazy with the salt!) :)

               







Monday, February 4, 2013

Biscuits and Gravy in Culinary Arts 1


Following a unit on the Mother Sauces, Culinary Arts 1 students demonstrated their bechamel skills by preparing homemade biscuits and gravy.  The gravy recipe was adapted from a Food Network recipe and the biscuit came directly from a pastry chef I worked with at Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando, FL who used to be a former pastry chef of Sir Elton John.  Needless to say, the students LOVED them and it is a fantastic recipe to make at home.