NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Denise Aguayo, student, Monroe College, New Rochelle, New York, was named 2016 American Culinary Federation (ACF) Northeast Region Student Chef of the Year on February 20. She received the title following a competition at the ACF Northeast Regional Culinary Salon held at Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
At the regional competition, Aguayo prepared two portions of a main dish that incorporated the assigned protein, chicken, for a panel of judges in 1 hour, 40 minutes. She received a gold medal for her dish: roasted stuffed chicken breast with chorizo stuffing and tomatillo sauce; braised chicken and pinto bean flauta; avocado cream and finger lime; leg steamed adobado with mole sauce; picadillo of butternut squash and wilted winter greens. Aguayo will now prepare to compete against her regional counterparts during Cook. Craft. Create. Convention & Show, Phoenix, July 15-19, for the national title and $1,000.
Sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc., the ACF Student Chef of the Year award recognizes an up-and-coming student who possesses a high degree of professionalism, culinary skill and passion for culinary arts.
“What it means for me to be named the Northeast regional champion is indescribable,” said Aguayo. “I have been at Monroe College for almost two years, and I haven’t been home to Arizona since. It’s nice knowing that I will get a chance to go home in July and compete for the national title in Phoenix. Until then, I will work hard and put all my time and effort into preparing for nationals.”
Aguayo is a lab assistant at Monroe College, New Rochelle, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. She began taking culinary classes through the culinary arts program at Glendale High School, Glendale, Arizona, and won a full scholarship to Monroe College through a student competition with Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP). A member of Monroe College’s junior culinary competition team, Aguayo has won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal across three ACF-sanctioned competitions. After graduation, she wants to work towards earning ACF certifications. Aguayo is a member of ACF Long Island Chapter.
ACF Regional Culinary Salon Competitions are a part of ACF’s Signature Series, which provides educational and networking opportunities through ChefConnect events and competitions for culinary industry professionals and students. ACF believes that culinary competitions play a vital role in the development of the culinary craft by testing chefs’ and students’ knowledge and skills in a competitive format. To learn more about ACF competitions, eligibility and rules, visit www.acfchefs.org/competitions.