火博体育社区的金牌

Skidmore’s award-winning 餐饮服务 team has taken home gold in the 10th annual American Culinary Federation (ACF) Conference and Competition, 这是火博体育在该项目的第八枚金牌. 

Nine teams from six different states participated in the “Chopped”-style competition 一月举行. 在火博体育的默里-艾金斯餐厅.

The Professional Chefs of New Hampshire, The University of Massachusetts, and Skidmore’s 全队都获得了金牌. Other competitors were Princeton University, Middlebury College, Rochester Institute of Technology, State University of New York Geneseo, 康奈尔大学和威本乡村俱乐部.  

Skidmore’s talented 餐饮服务 team has achieved wide recognition, including 一个没有. 5 ranking for Best College Food in New York in 2024 from 利基市场.com 基于膳食计划费用和学生评价.  

“I’m proud of our Skidmore team and this achievement. 但这不仅仅关乎输赢 — I'm proud of the work that we do and meals we serve every day to our students,” 餐饮服务部主任马克·米勒说. “我认为所有的厨师都在旅行 to Skidmore for this experience are going to walk away with a really positive impression 对学院和我们社区的贡献.” 

As part of the competition, chefs were required to prepare a three-course menu and buffet platter by utilizing ingredients in a “market basket” provided to each team. The teams had an hour and a half to develop the menu and then several hours to prepare 然后上菜. A panel of six professional chefs were assembled to be judges 在活动中. 

For Skidmore’s team and other members of the Skidmore community, the win held a deeper meaning: Skidmore’s executive chef of 18 years, 吉姆·罗斯, is retiring this year.  

“Chef Rose is one of the driving forces behind organizing this event and in helping us train for it, so we’re really glad to have this win in his honor,” Miller said.  

Skidmore’s team this year was a mix of old and new faces; 迈克尔Hinrichs, who was hired as production manager by the College last year and who will be taking over Rose’s 职位上，担任过组长. Other Skidmore team members were cooks Matt Palmer, 帕特·艾夫斯和克里斯·麦克吉尔平. All have represented the College at similar competitions in the past, but this was their first time competing together. 

“It’s fun to be able to show off your skills at an event like this with so many other 天才厨师. 这总是一个很好的学习经验. 很高兴有这个机会 to make something a bit more elevated, to really show off what we can do,” commented 艾夫斯. 

A key portion of the judges’ criteria, along with the originality, taste, and presentation of the food, was the ability of each team to work together seamlessly. 幸运的是 Hinrichs, Palmer, 艾夫斯, and McGilpin, this community-minded approach came naturally. 

“We’re used to working together, but the competition provides us with a special opportunity to get to know each other as individuals by working in a different setting. 它可以帮助 us grow as a team,” said Hinrichs, who kicked off the three-day event by demonstrating 他的冰雕天赋. 

With many more competitions on the horizon and plenty of other creative opportunities for Skidmore’s 天才厨师 to flex their skills, it’s clear that the future of 餐饮部的人会很好. 

“Working at the College, I've seen a lot of changes over the years, but the value we place on community at Skidmore stays consistent. 那是个工作的好地方-我 我从18年前开始就有这种感觉. 当我来到学院时，我想， ‘Wow, you really are appreciated,’” reflected Chef Rose. “这是工作的重要组成部分 一起成功就是有一个好的领导. 我认为迈克尔做得很出色 好了. And these competitions are not easy, but I've got a great staff. I'm fortunate that we have a lot of talent behind the scenes.”