Local Bellevue High School Crushes Both Culinary and Management Competitions at Statewide Restaurant Contest

SPOKANE, Wash., March 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspiring chefs and restaurateurs from Newport High School found vindication this year as they swept both the culinary and management competitions at the ProStart Invitational on March 10 in Spokane, Wash., hosted by The Washington Hospitality Association Education Foundation.

Newport high's teams did not place in the 2017 ProStart competition, but this year they're both headed to Providence, Rhode Island, for the national contest.

The Newport culinary team won with a crispy soft-shell crab appetizer, a Takamori chicken and pork ramen main course, and a molten lava cake with black tea ice cream, brown butter, a sesame tuile and Brule oranges for dessert.

The school's management team came up with a winning plan to open a ramen house.

ProStart is a nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and industry to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice leaders. In Washington state, the program serves more than 1,500 students per year. After completing the program, students receive a certificate of achievement they can present to potential employers when they enter the labor force.

"ProStart students provide a solution for the labor shortage many restaurateurs are experiencing as unemployment remains below 4 percent in King County," said Bob Cramer, general manager of Daniel's Broiler in Bellevue, Wash., and board member of the Washington Hospitality Association Education Foundation.

Through the ProStart program, high school students learn about the culinary arts: flavor profiles, presentation, storage practices, nutrition, business math and the importance of workplace and food safety.

"These students work hard to hone their skills and learn about our industry," Cramer said. "They come out of the program with experience that makes them not only immediately employable but also poised to climb the ranks in the hospitality industry."

The winners at the 2018 Washington state competition are:

Culinary:

• Newport High School (Bellevue, Wash.), first place
• Kentlake High School (Kent, Wash.), second place
• Bonney Lake High School (Bonney Lake, Wash.), third place

Management:

• Newport High School, first place
• Bonney Lake High School, second place
• Ferris High School (Spokane, Wash.), third place

Educator of Excellence:
Kahale Ahina, Bonney Lake

Mentor of Excellence:
Dan Corekin, Bonney Lake

Student of Excellence:
Derek Tran, Rogers High School (Spokane, Wash.)

Derek Tran said the training he is getting from ProStart is teaching him what he needs to know about being a chef. He took some time out after cooking to talk with us about his future.

For more information, visit the Washington Hospitality Association website

About the Washington Hospitality Association

The Washington Hospitality Association is a member-based organization that works at the state and local levels to find proactive solutions to the challenging issues facing the industry and its workforce. It provides its members with programs, services and the information they need to deliver great local experiences, ensure the success of their employees and help their communities thrive. The Washington Hospitality Association became one of the state's largest trade associations in 2016 when the Washington Restaurant Association and Washington Lodging Association joined forces in a combined association.

About Washington's Hospitality Industry

Hospitality is the industry that serves. It represents the largest group of private employers in the state, and the jobs the industry provides are the backbone of the state's economy. Local restaurants and hotels employ more than 280,000 Washingtonians and each year, the hospitality industry generates more than $1.1 billion in state sales and Business & Occupation taxes.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Leinberger, Local Communications Manager, 509-475-2162, [email protected]

SOURCE Washington Hospitality Association