Culinary Performs Well at State-Wide Competition

by Danelle Topil

On March 25, the Eudora-De Soto Ed-Tech culinary arts team traveled to Wichita to challenge other schools in the state of Kansas at the ProStart Invitational competition, scoring well in all three categories including management, culinary, and edible centerpieces. Besides performing well, the team members also won $12,500 worth of scholarships to Johnson & Wales University and Art Institutes of America.

The management team competed in designing their own restaurant which included coming up with a restaurant concept, menu, and marketing strategy. The team, comprised of Alex Bock from Eudora, Megan King from De Soto, and Amanda Payne from De Soto, took home a second place medal.

The culinary team also performed well at the competition and received third place in their category. On the team were members Kristen Dennis from Eudora, Zach Frieling from De Soto, and Caroline Peters, Rachel Larson, and Riley Vomhof, all from Mill Valley. The prestigious honor of best beef dish was also given to this hard-working bunch, represented with a trophy cow in homage of their fine taste in beef.

Lastly, senior Patience Keeney exemplified her creativity in the edible centerpiece competition, taking fourth place.

“Our teams represented our schools well,” said senior Kristen Dennis. “The only teams that beat us win nationals almost every year, so I was impressed with our performances.”