PECI Iron Chefs silver at Loyalist

Coach and Chef John Ross Woodland waits nervously in the cafeteria as his team creates in the kitchen.

Prince Edward Collegiate Institute students earned silver on Saturday in Loyalist College’s 11th Annual Junior Iron Chef Competition.
“The judges said it was the most difficult decision they have had in recent years,” says Heather Munroe, PECI’s teacher in charge. “The team felt confident coming out of the kitchen, that they had prepared and presented their best work.  The judges called their work “stellar” and said that team work and communication displayed by our team was outstanding.”
LCVI, of Kingston, won gold and Ernestown ended in the bronze position.
PECI has participated in eight competitions – winning the gold five times, the silver twice and bronze last year.
The students have been perfecting a three-course meal since the preliminary competition in September. Their menus, which could not exceed $65, succeeded in the semi-final rounds against nine other secondary schools.

“Jocelyn Wilson, Sharon Oliphant, Meganne Belisle, Jared Hartley and alternate, Keith Petrasek were an amazing team who had the fortunate opportunity to work under the guidance and direction of Chef (and former PECI grad) John Ross Woodland,” reports Munroe.  “After several months of practicing and perfecting each detail of their menu, their hard work and efforts paid off. Prince Edward Collegiate tied for first place with LCVI with a score of 95 per cent.”

PECI was sponsored by County Sunshine, Town & Country Video, Pete Fleck Memorial Culinary Arts Fund,  nofrills, and the Gazebo Restaurant.
Loyalist’s event is sponsored by Ontario Pork Producers and Trent Valley Distributors. The events help the winning secondary school improve its kitchen through funding and equipment.

“The Junior Iron Chef Competition was a fundamental learning experience for me when I was a student in the Loyalist Culinary Management program several years ago,” said Jay McColl, one of the judges, and a chef at East & Main Bistro and the new Pomodoro Restaurant in Wellington. “Organizing the event helped to prepare me for running a restaurant because it required several months of working with classmates on everything from menu and marketing to budgeting and regulations.”
Saturday’s event also featured the 4th Annual Food & Beverage Show  run by Loyalist culinary students in support of tomorrow’s chefs.

The Food & Beverage Show featured food demonstrations, free food samples, Club 213 and Loyalist Market, The Spa at Loyalist, and several local restaurants and wineries.

Congratulations to PECI Jr. Iron Chefs Jocelyn Wilson, Sharon Oliphant, Meganne Belisle and Jared Hartley on your Silver!