Savannah Technical College culinary-arts instructor Zeb Berry and five STC students earned four gold and three silver medals at the American Culinary Federation Tampa Bay Competition on Nov. 1.
Berry competed in two categories: showpiece and cold-plated dessert. His chocolate showpiece featured an “exploding flower.” He demonstrated pastry skills in the cold-plated dessert competition, as well as his kitchen organization and contemporary-plating techniques. Berry earned a gold medal for his cold-plated dessert and a silver medal for his chocolate showpiece.
Student competitors created wedding cakes or a showpiece made of chocolate or sugar. The judges evaluated the consistency and the delicate nature of the showpieces. Students who created sugar showpieces demonstrated techniques like pulling, blowing, casting, etc. STC pastry-arts students Carol Lanser earned a gold medal, and Haley Rankin earned a silver medal for sugar showpieces.
The other three students submitted to the judges a completed three-tier wedding cake that had been decorated using traditional methods of piping. Angela Burke-Grove and Myriam Tellez both earned gold medals, and Shawntay Leggett earned a silver medal.
More than 70 students currently are enrolled in the baking and pastry program.
The application deadline for new students in spring semester 2015 is Dec. 19. For more information about Culinary Arts at Savannah Tech, go to www.facebook.com/ChefJeanVendeville.