After a seven-year break, our Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management team made a remarkable return to the National ProStart Invitational - earning an impressive third-place finish against top student chefs from across the country. This prestigious competition, presented by the National Restaurant Association, was held in Baltimore, Maryland.
Facing an intense, high-stakes challenge, the Polaris team flawlessly executed a three-course gourmet meal for a panel of certified chefs. Competitors were judged on creativity, teamwork, communication, organization, time management, technical skill and food safety - all within a strict one-hour timeframe using only two butane burners. No ovens or electrical appliances were allowed. Teams also submitted detailed recipes and cost analyses for each dish.
Polaris earned its place on the national stage with an exceptional menu featuring:
Tarragon butter-poached lobster appetizer
Seared coffee-spiced Certified Angus Beef strip steak entrée
Dark chocolate Bavarian dessert with marshmallow, raspberry and mango accents
The award-winning Polaris culinary team includes:
Stephen Gillespie, senior, Strongsville High School
Teagan Leske, senior, Strongsville High School
Ricardo Martinez, junior, Berea-Midpark High School
Esther Wilkinson, junior, North Olmsted High School
Logan Zawie, junior, Strongsville High School
In addition to their outstanding performance, each student was awarded a $3,500 Coca-Cola Foundation Scholarship, with additional scholarship opportunities expected in the coming weeks.
Congratulations to our talented culinary team and the dynamic duo of Chef Chris Olszewski and Laurie Bortolotto, whose leadership, encouragement and unwavering support played a key role in this incredible achievement. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and can’t wait to see what next year brings!