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Restaurant Hosts Event to Raise Money for Future Chefs

by Dan Cook May 4, 2015

by Dan Cook May 4, 2015 35 views

Dena Lowell with Victor Delgado, Keith Blauschild, Joshua Thomas, Rachel Lenna, Cynthia Almodovar, and Kamrie Delano.

By: Sharon Aron Baron

Five ingredients. Five student chefs. Five celebrity judges. Who would win the Coral Springs version of “Chopped?”

On Sunday, Coral Springs restaurant The Cook and the Cork held their second annual event for their Young Culinarian Scholarship Foundation, which raises money for young chefs. The party’s theme was Louisiana “Bayou,” featuring gumbo, jambalaya, BBQ, crawfish, and oysters accompanied by live zydeco music. Held on the half-acre restaurant’s half-acre site that is owned by Chef Keith Blauschild and Dena Lowell, silent auction items were also featured, including gift baskets and cooking tutorials.

“I thought it was fantastic. We couldn’t ask for a better day,” said Sous Chef Michael Brothers.

The featured event was the “Chopped” competition, where five student chefs from Coral Glades High School prepared a meal using only five ingredients: mahi mahi fish, instant cook rice, zucchini, okra, and coconut milk.

Brothers also provided one burner, two saucepans, two mixing bowls, all the cooking tools needed, and access to “every spice under the sun.”

The students could also add apples, cabbage, bell peppers, onions, chicken stock, and vinegar to enhance their dish, just as long as they utilized the five ingredients.

Afterward, “celebrity judges’ consisting of Coral Springs City Commissioner Joy Carter, Food writer Dan I. Cook from Coral Springs Talk, Owner Mike Lange from Air Around the Clock, Jacqui Pressinger, Assistant Director of Admissions from The Culinary Institute of America, and Parkland Mayor Michael Udine sampled all of the dishes.

The Judges Decision:

Grand Prize- Victor Delgado – 7-piece Wustof Knife Set, donated by Sur La Table

1st place- Joshua Thomas – $100 Cook And The Cork Gift Card

2nd place- Rachel Lenna – 7 piece Set Of Hand Tools (Spoons and spatulas) donated by Sur La Table

3rd place- Cynthia Almodovar – $25 Too Jays gift card and a candle from Yankee Candle in Coconut Creek

4th place Kamrie Delano – $15 LaSpada’s Original Hoagies gift card

This year’s event proceeds will be awarded to The Culinary Institute of America’s (CIA) Alumni Scholarship Foundation. The CIA is the world’s premiere not-for-profit culinary college in the United States.

“Ten years ago, if someone did this event, it wouldn’t have been as successful,” Brothers said and pointed out how there were so many options for a culinary arts career. Executive Chefs at Panera Bread, McDonalds, and even the White House Chef, along with Anthony Bourdain, are all Culinary Institute of America graduates.

Students that are interested in culinary arts may want to get to know Brothers as well as any of the other chefs a bit better at The Cook and the Cork restaurant: “If any of the kids competed today, or anybody down here in South Florida want to go to the Culinary Institute of America if any of us recommends them, they will get a $1,000 scholarship.”

Author Profile

Dan Cook

A native of Broward, Half-Samoan Half-Irish or Afa Tasi, Food Warrior, Beer Ninja, United States Marine, owner/talent of danicookeatdrink.com. Retired Oakland Park Police Department/BSO Sergeant, DLE.