With a menu that included ceviche, pork tenderloin stuffed with chorizo and cilantro pistou, and salted caramel cremeux, three Madison High School students cooked their way past 23 other teams to win the 16th annual California ProStart Cup.
Luis Torres, Odin Metzger and Isaac Perry, with assistance from teacher and chef Kimberly Coelho, had one hour to prepare the three-course meal using two butane burners. The students had no electricity, no ovens and no running water. They also had to create a portfolio with each recipe individually costed and priced for a menu.
"I am very proud of my team," Coelho said. "Despite several setbacks, they persevered and came out winners."
Presented by the California Restaurant Association Foundation, the California ProStart Cup brings together talented high school students from ProStart programs across the state. The event is sponsored by the BJ's Restaurant Foundation.
As the winning team, the students will be eligible for scholarships to aid in their pursuit of higher education and will be sponsored to compete in the 2018 National ProStart Invitational April 27 in Providence Rhode Island.
ProStart is a national college and career readiness curriculum that develops the best and brightest talent into tomorrow's industry leaders. In California, the ProStart program is operated by the California Restaurant Association Foundation in more than 130 public high schools across the state.
Madison High School is one of several high schools in San Diego Unified that have culinary arts as part of its College Career and Technical Education program. Other high schools include San Diego High, Morse, Garfield, Hoover and Mira Mesa.
The event took place March 18-19 in Pomona, California.