Edible artistry was on display Dec. 4 at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s annual Food Show, where culinary arts and baking and pastry arts students displayed final projects for judges and visitors.
The Chef Eugene Mattucci Best of Show Award was granted to Amanda R. D’Apuzzo, a baking and pastry arts student from Morganville, New Jersey, for a two-tier, fondant-covered cake that featured a lighted gingerbread house and a molded gingerbread family enjoying winter activities.
The Best of Show Award is named for the late chef/owner of Mattucci’s Italian Restaurant in Mount Carmel. Mattucci was a longtime Penn College advisory committee member and Food Show judge.
D’Appuzzo’s cake also received first place among entries from the Cakes and Decorations course. In addition to cakes, Food Show entries included chocolate sculptures and intricate plated desserts and hors d’oeuvres.
The projects were judged by Michael Davis, executive chef for Susquehanna Health; Samantha Gundlach, owner of Samantha’s Kitchen in Lock Haven and a 2010 Penn College baking and pastry arts graduate; and Sue L. Mayer, owner of Grammy Sue’s Cakes and Cookies in Cogan Station and a retired Penn College baking and pastry arts faculty member.
Winners in each course are:
Advanced Garde Manger (hors d’oeuvres): First place, James E. Culp, of Northumberland, and Robert E. Wood, of Montoursville; second place, Tyler R. Kresge, of Clarks Summit, and Alex P. Korbich, of Sunbury.
Cakes and Decorations: First place (and Best of Show), Amanda R. D’Apuzzo, of Morganville, New Jersey; second place, Chyna M. Profeta, of Williamsport; honorable mentions, Paige E. Pearson, of Williamsburg, Jennie E. Zarcufsky, of Ringtown.
Classical and Specialty Dessert Presentation: First place, Brittany L. Mink, of Allentown; second place, Alyssa T. Rummel, of Ephrata; third place, Victoria R. Krauter, of Royersford; honorable mention, Jeffrey L. Bretz, of Quakertown.
Principles of Chocolate Works: First place, Hannah D. Runtas, of Williamsport; second place, Jeffrey L. Bretz, of Quakertown; third place, Krista A. Swinehart, of Northumberland; honorable mentions, Hannah L. Kegerreis, of Presto, Ethan B. Hinkel, of Muncy.
Among Food Show visitors were more than 200 high school students who stopped by as part of a day’s worth of activities that included a “Taste of Technology” presentation, which demonstrated innovative food production using chemistry and technology, a tour of culinary arts and baking and pastry arts kitchens, and other stops across campus.
Schools that visited were Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg; Essex County Vocational Technical School in Newark, New Jersey; Jersey Shore Area Senior High School; Keystone Central Career and Technology Center in Mill Hall; Lycoming Career and Technology Center in Hughesville; State College Area High School; SUN Area Technical Institute in New Berlin; Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center in Springville; and Benton Area High School.
To learn more about hospitality majors at Penn College, or to arrange a visit, call the School of Business & Hospitality at 570-327-4505.
For information about the college, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
The Chef Eugene Mattucci Best of Show Award was granted to Amanda R. D’Apuzzo, a baking and pastry arts student from Morganville, New Jersey, for a two-tier, fondant-covered cake that featured a lighted gingerbread house and a molded gingerbread family enjoying winter activities.
The Best of Show Award is named for the late chef/owner of Mattucci’s Italian Restaurant in Mount Carmel. Mattucci was a longtime Penn College advisory committee member and Food Show judge.D’Appuzzo’s cake also received first place among entries from the Cakes and Decorations course. In addition to cakes, Food Show entries included chocolate sculptures and intricate plated desserts and hors d’oeuvres.
The projects were judged by Michael Davis, executive chef for Susquehanna Health; Samantha Gundlach, owner of Samantha’s Kitchen in Lock Haven and a 2010 Penn College baking and pastry arts graduate; and Sue L. Mayer, owner of Grammy Sue’s Cakes and Cookies in Cogan Station and a retired Penn College baking and pastry arts faculty member.
Winners in each course are:
Advanced Garde Manger (hors d’oeuvres): First place, James E. Culp, of Northumberland, and Robert E. Wood, of Montoursville; second place, Tyler R. Kresge, of Clarks Summit, and Alex P. Korbich, of Sunbury.
Cakes and Decorations: First place (and Best of Show), Amanda R. D’Apuzzo, of Morganville, New Jersey; second place, Chyna M. Profeta, of Williamsport; honorable mentions, Paige E. Pearson, of Williamsburg, Jennie E. Zarcufsky, of Ringtown.
Classical and Specialty Dessert Presentation: First place, Brittany L. Mink, of Allentown; second place, Alyssa T. Rummel, of Ephrata; third place, Victoria R. Krauter, of Royersford; honorable mention, Jeffrey L. Bretz, of Quakertown.
Principles of Chocolate Works: First place, Hannah D. Runtas, of Williamsport; second place, Jeffrey L. Bretz, of Quakertown; third place, Krista A. Swinehart, of Northumberland; honorable mentions, Hannah L. Kegerreis, of Presto, Ethan B. Hinkel, of Muncy.
Among Food Show visitors were more than 200 high school students who stopped by as part of a day’s worth of activities that included a “Taste of Technology” presentation, which demonstrated innovative food production using chemistry and technology, a tour of culinary arts and baking and pastry arts kitchens, and other stops across campus.
Schools that visited were Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg; Essex County Vocational Technical School in Newark, New Jersey; Jersey Shore Area Senior High School; Keystone Central Career and Technology Center in Mill Hall; Lycoming Career and Technology Center in Hughesville; State College Area High School; SUN Area Technical Institute in New Berlin; Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center in Springville; and Benton Area High School.
To learn more about hospitality majors at Penn College, or to arrange a visit, call the School of Business & Hospitality at 570-327-4505.
For information about the college, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.