National Culinary Review - September 2011

It was a relatively close competition this year, with the frontrunners being Kendall College, Chicago, representing the Central Region, and Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC), Youngwood, Pa., representing the Northeast Region. Also competing were the Culinary Institute of Savannah at Savannah Technical College, Savannah, Ga., representing the Southeast Region, and ACF Pikes Peak Chapter Inc., students from Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, Colo., representing the Western Region.

2011 Knowledge Bowl champions, second from left to right, Jacob Clara, Paige Rogers, Gabriele Ausraite, Jacqueline Wallner, captain, Robert Baki and Dina Altieri, coach, are congratulated by David Holloway, far left, representing American Technical Publishers, the Knowledge Bowl’s sponsor.

The teams were faced with some tough questions, and from the start it was clear that this competition would go down to the wire. Kendall College went through the first four rounds undefeated, and Westmoreland County Community College had only one loss going into the final round. If Kendall could win the round, it would be over; if Westmoreland could pull an upset, it would go to a tie-breaker.

Asked about her role as captain, Wallner, who was the only returning member from last year’s team, said, “It was a mothering experience,” and called her team “a cohesive, unstoppable machine.” Team member Robert Baki said the contest was an “incredible journey.” Jacob Clara found bonding with teammates the most important aspect. He said he had a “forever feeling” about the win.

Kendall College team members had a short celebration before going back to work, finding themselves up against Altieri, Heidi Block, ACF Pikes Peak Chapter coach, Cindy Komarinski, CCC, CCE, HAAC, WCCC coach, and David Ivey-Soto, CEC, CCA, MBA, board representative. Chris Koetke, CEC, CCE, HAAC, MBA, Kendall College School of Culinary Arts executive director, was the alternate.

With five questions to go, the score was tied, but then Kendall College took the lead. In the end, the Kendall College team won gold medals and became 2011 Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl national champions. Congratulations to the team and all their supporters. It was a well-fought match and a well-deserved win.

“It was unbelievable that we earned this
honor,” Ausraite said. And Paige Rogers
added, “It was nice to see something
through and get the payoff after working
so hard. It was very gratifying.”
Finally, Wallner’s fiance said it best,
expressing a leave-it-all-on-the-field
philosophy: “Either come home carrying
the shield, or be carried on it.”
There was a special set of questions
for this round, with categories such as
ACF history and past ACF presidents, as
well as traditional baking and cooking
questions. It was much less serious than
the actual competition, and everyone
had a great time. In the end, the student
team from Kendall College won in a
commanding fashion.

All the competitors and coaches should be proud of their hard work and for earning the honor to compete in the finals.

Desmond Keefe is culinary program chair at Southern New Hampshire University, Hooksett, N.H., and a member of ACF Epicurean Club of Boston.

WINNING TEAM

It should be noted that when the win was imminent, Jacqueline Wallner, captain of the Kendall College team, made a selfless decision to take herself out of the competition and bring in Gabriele Ausraite, the team’s alternate. By doing so, she gave her friend and teammate the opportunity to compete in the national-title match.

An additional cause for celebration for the team was that Dina Altieri, CEC, CCE, the team’s coach, was named 2011 Chef Educator of the Year.

STUDENTS VS. PROFESSIONALS A new element in this year’s competition was the addition of an extra round after the winning team was determined. The concept was to have the winner compete against team coaches and a member of the national board of directors.