With precision, creativity, and a dash of determination, the Patriots have proven they can handle the heat, and now an even bigger test awaits. At the Regional Family, Career and Community Leaders of America competition, the International Cuisine team took home first and second place on Feb. 1st. The team of six consisted of Lillian Kravcisin, 11, Leslie Carrillo, 10, Miguel Loa, 12, Alejandro Ortiz, 12, Jennifer Ortiz, 11, and Anette Resendiz, 11. Hosted by La Quinta High School, the competitors had an hour to cook three recipes: Split Chicken Breast with Supreme Sauce, Mashed Parsnips and Potatoes, and Sauteed Green Beans against 12 high schools from all over California.
Up first, students Ortiz and Kravcisin stepped into the kitchen, ready to whip up their finest dishes for the judges.
“It was nerve-racking. I didn’t have to wait much cause we started at 10:30. Those first 30 minutes were gut-wrenching. I felt nervous but excited. I imagined myself in one of those kitchen shows,” Ortiz said.
Whisking the team to victory was new culinary teacher Chef Michael Reyes, who recently joined the school district after a long career as a chef at Pomona College. Wanting to make his mark in San Diego, Reyes worked with students and proved their hard work paid off with top placements.
“I did all I could to give us any kind of advantage that day. So whatever I needed to do, I did to get any advantage. I was nervous for them,” Reyes said.
Reyes will now take his team to the next stepping stone, the district competition against San Pasqual and Escondido High. Hosted in the culinary kitchen, the competition will feature two categories: entrees and desserts. Each school will have two teams, one for each category. With only three spots available for the entree team, Reyes is stirring up some early competition with a cook-off to determine the top three students for the district team from his original six.
“I feel excited, but at the same time, I remember the mistakes that I made. I didn’t prepare enough for the last competition, which is something I’m trying to fix. I’m trying to stay calm during the cooking,” Ortiz said.
Accompanying Reyes’s team, Baking and Pastry students Mia Abellar, 12, Abril Colin, 12, Valeria Fabian, 12, and Coralina Arredondo, 12, will gear up for the competition with Kristi Sovacool and begin to practice rolling out their best skills. They have yet to select their final dessert for this competition.
“I’m so happy. I enjoy basking, and I like working with my team. I’m really excited about this competition, currently, we are just practicing. As of right now, we made a pistachio tartlet with rose whipped cream and raspberries, and we also made a strawberry pop-tart,” Fabian said.
