Press Release
Promising Student Chefs Win Scholarships in Local Mexican Shrimp Contest
Mexican Shrimp Council Sponsors Educational Showcase at The Art Institute of
California – San Diego
San Diego, CA — June 19, 2006 – Three student chefs from The Art Institute of California/San Diego’s culinary arts program won $6,000 in tuition scholarships from the Mexican Shrimp Council in a shrimp cooking competition just completed. The three students, all female, were selected by judges from among a dozen competitors.
Winner Laura Bruce, a resident of Vista, took top honors with her “Poached Mexican Shrimp in Orange Vinaigrette Dusted with Cumin and Pistachios.” The shrimp were presented with cous cous tossed with sautéed vegetables in a cilantro lime vinaigrette, and pepitas with chilled chayote squash puree and tomatillo lime granite.
Chau Phan and Carol Wafer, first and second runner-ups respectively, presented the judges with “Mexican Shrimp Ravioli with Vanilla Beurre Blanc” and “Mexican Shrimp En Papillote & Hand-Torn Pasta with Arugula and Tarragon Aioli.”
The cooking competition was the highlight of a hands-on educational showcase that included guest lectures by Mexican Shrimp Council representatives designed to educate the school’s 300 culinary arts students on Mexican shrimp fishing and farming methods, product traceability, sustainability practices, product purchasing, and quality aspects of Mexican shrimp. Authentic Mexican Shrimp was also provided for practical instruction.
The contest held last Friday was directed by Art Institute culinary arts instructors and judged by local American Culinary Federation member chefs Urs B. Emmenegger, President of ACF Chefs and Culinarians of San Diego and Executive Chef, Marriott La Jolla; Mark Bruning, Executive Chef, Marriott Mission Valley; Brandon Perry, Personal Chef to the Admiral of the West Coast Naval Fleet; Patrick F. Leidtke, Executive Chef, Zen Restaurant in Del Mar; and Mark Blaauboer CEC, Assistant Academic Director of Culinary Arts at The Art Institute of California—San Diego and Chairman of the Board of the ACF Chefs and Culinarians of San Diego.
Participating students each produced a unique shrimp entrée using Authentic Mexican Shrimp plus additional ingredients within a designated market basket of goods. Contest submissions were judged on food safety and sanitation, originality, technique, presentation and taste.
“Based on the fundamental role chefs play in familiarizing other chefs, food lovers and home cooks with premium ingredients, tomorrow’s culinary leadership needs an appreciation of all-natural and sustainable food choices,” said Hugo Camou, president of the Mexican Shrimp Council. “So we are very pleased with the success of our partnership with The Art Institute to educate their enterprising student chefs.”
“The Art Institute is proud to participate in this meaningful collaboration,” said Mark Sullivan, Academic Director, Culinary Arts at The Art Institute of California—San Diego. “Partnering with groups such as the Mexican Shrimp Council provides our faculty and students a wonderful chance to foster educational opportunities within the community which we live and work.”
Known for their bold, intense flavor and firm texture, Mexican Shrimp already enjoy a level of prestige among culinary connoisseurs and seafood lovers because of an idyllic habitat and the long-standing commitment of Mexican shrimp producers, processors and importers to optimum quality assurance from harvest to package.
The Mexican Shrimp Council is a binational group of producers, processors, suppliers and marketers working together to educate trade and consumer audiences about the quality aspects and price-value relationship of Authentic Mexican Shrimp. For more information, please visit www.mexicanshrimp.org.
The Art Institute of California – San Diego is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with 32 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals.
Contacts:
Mexican Shrimp Council:
Melissa Dennis, OutSmart
760-930-8973
melissa@teamoutsmart.com
The Art Institute of California—San Diego:
Catherine Guyot
858-598-1473
cguyot@aii.edu
