Culinary Skills Challenge

Pans were sizzling, knives were chopping, and the smell of barbeque filled the air during the annual Schwan Culinary Skills Challenge held at SMSU on March 31.  Over 215 high school students from 14 schools participated in the competition.   The event, which began in 2005, has evolved into nine student competitions and ten educational breakout sessions.

The competitions include: Baking Science, three Cake Decorating categories, Cooking, Food Art, Knife Skills, Menu Design, and Place Setting.  Students participating in the Cooking competition compete for scholarships to attend SMSU’s Culinology program.

Students who didn’t compete participate in ten different educational sessions presented by professional chefs, bakers, and food scientists.  They included a tour of SMSU’s Culinology Department where students made ice cream using liquid nitrogen.  Students made truffles with Wilton Hall of Fame Gingerbread master, Steven Stellingwerf.  BBQ Pitmaster, Bill Mulso, showed students how to make a BBQ rub from common household ingredients.  They also decorated rice krispy treats with fondant, learned about food allergens, sampled fried cream cheese balls and bruschetta and learned how to create recipes of their own from a professional food blogger.

In addition to having one of the world’s largest food companies as a sponsor, the event relies on professionals from the food and hospitality industry to keep the competitions and sessions relevant. The advisory committee, judges, and presenters all come from industry and can add to what students learn in their classes to make their lessons more real.

To view photos of winners and additional pictures from the event, visit our website- www.swsc.org/culinary.