The culinary department at WCCC won last week’s American Culinary Federation (ACF) cooking competition with top honors.

The ACF is a skills-based competition that includes all culinary programs in the state of Colorado. WCCC’s five-student cooking team included Jeremy Mattingley, Desiree Orduno, Kacey Abot, Haley MacDonald, and Travis James, who earned a gold medal for the varsity team.

“This is the first time we’ve won a gold medal,” said Jon St. Peter, instructor and chef. “This year we were the best in the state.”

The WCCC Culinary department had two teams competing in the ACF competition at varsity and junior varsity levels.

The two-part competition began with an 80-minute timed cooking competition including the butchering and preparation of poultry and fish, a pastry skills section and a vegetable presentation. The teams not only personally challenged themselves but also competed against a national culinary standard that governs the ACF competition.

The second part of the competition was based on the preparation of a signature menu that involves a four-course meal prepared within a 90-minute time frame.

“There’s a lot of time and effort that goes into this,” said St. Peter.

The regional finals are up next, which are open to all states west of the Rockies. The Western Regional Conference is part of four regional events that will define the top four teams in the nation.

The ACF Western Regional Conference will be held in Oakland, Calif., March 2 through 5.

akennedy2@mavs.cololoradomesa.edu