Results!
Fourth Annual Student Cake Decorating Competition
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Esperanza Community Services
520 N. Marshfield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
The Fourth Annual Student Cake Decorating Competition benefiting Esperanza Community Services was a great success, with more than one hundred attendees there. Many people came out to cheer on the 30 competitors, 17 of whom were in the culinary school level, and 13 representing the high school level. The host of the event, Esperanza Community Services, is celebrating its 40th year of service, and the theme of the competitors’ cakes reflected Esperanza’s anniversary. Each competitor and spectator made a $10 donation to Esperanza which offers services and education to people having disabilities.
Three winners in each level, the culinary and high school levels, were awarded prizes that were donated by Villeroy & Boch. Thanks to Tonya Wheeler of Villeroy & Boch for making this possible! The winners of the culinary school level included Evangelina Bertand (1st place), Leila Manoochehri (2nd place), and Sarah Dunworth (3rd place). The high school level winners were Semaj Thomas (1st place), Nina Salem (2nd place), and Graciela Martinez (3rd place).
First Place
Culinary High School
Evangelina Bertand Semaj Thomas
Second Place
Culinary High School
Leila Manoochehri Nina Salem
Third Place
Culinary High School
Sarah Dunworth Graciela Martinez
We were honored to have Master Cake Artist Nicholas Lodge join us as Head Judge. He and six others generously contributed their time to evaluate each participant’s work. We were equally privileged to be joined by Chef Keli Fayard of Vanille Patisserie, Chef Peter Rios of Alliance Bakery, Chef Sandy Folsom of Wilton Enterprises, Chef Barbara Evans of Wedding Cake Connection, Sally Scheib of Esperanza Community Services, and Nelly Carreño of Telemundo. We are very grateful to all the judges who participated with us this year!
While the judges examined each contestant’s cake, Chef Laura Ragano of The French Pastry School demonstrated some of her beautiful gumpaste creations. She was assisted by Wayne Johnson, host of “Wayne’s Weekend” on NBC Chicago News Today. We want to extend a special thank you to Wayne!
We also would like to thank Esperanza Community Services, especially Director, Diane Farina White, for hosting a wonderful event. For more information on Esperanza and all they do, visit www.esperanzacommunityservices.org.
Should you have any questions contact us at:
info@pastrychicago.org, 312.726.2419 ext.208.
