2020/21 Academic Year Recap

First Year students Shyla Billie, CCAP Arizona, Kupae Harrison, PCTI New Jersey and Morena Hernandez, CCAP Los Angeles entered a dish in the virtual veal competition hosted by the New York State Veal Council. Their dish, a potato croquette stuffed with a veal Bolognese sauce was the winning entry. The three students won $1000 scholarships and the school earned a trophy proclaiming the first place finish.

Sitting at 993 medals for the 15 months of the pandemic was frustrating. When the opportunity presented to host an ACF-sanctioned competition on campus in May, fourteen Team CINY were ready. Douglas Serrano, a Long Island, Barry Tech BOCES student earned number 1000. What made this special was that his culinary teacher and mentor Rossella Cangialosi was on hand for the special medal. Chef Cangialosi, a graduate of CINY and member of its first state championship team in 2015, was there for this momentous occasion. Overall, TEAM CINY earned 14 medals on the day.

When the New York State Beef Council announced they would be having a collegiate recipe contest, TEAM CINY was ready. Students on the culinary team bound for nationals concepted a menu featuring beef as center-of-the-plate, using lesser known cuts and giving them prominence. Roshaun Heath, CCAP Truman HS student, Niyah Rivers, CCAP Food and Finance HS student, Mia Zeglinski, CCAP Arizona, and Jazmyn Wakefield, Ohio, entered a menu featuring a Socca Flatbread appetizer with braised beef and a main course featuring the petite shoulder filet (Teres Major), a tender cut from the beef shoulder. The students were awarded scholarships of $500 and the school received a plaque commemorating the win.

On Saturday, July 24th, seven students from the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality Club (NSMH) participated in a field trip around the NYC harbor on City Cruises. The tour provided stunning views of the NYC harbor, including an up-close viewing of the Statue of Liberty. According to Cathy Sturry, Vice President of the club, the trip provided relief to members as they experienced the hospitality industry while assuring them that the industry was rebounding. Professor Thompson, the NSMH club advisor, accompanied the group.

Team CINY travelled to Orlando, Florida in August to compete for the national student team championship held at the Rosen School of Hospitality at The University of Central Florida. The team, led by captain Lukas Dejong, Wilson Tech BOCES student, earned silver medals with an outstanding performance. Roshaun Heath and Cristi Gonzalez, CCAP students from Truman HS, Mia Zeglinski, CCAP Arizona student and Niyah Rivers, CCAP Food and Finance HS student rounded out the team in the kitchen. The menu included a delicious Striped Bass starter course with goat cheese ravioli, warm truffle vinaigrette and multi-colored beets. The dessert featured strawberry, almonds, and rosemary. The team was coached by Dean Costantino and Chef Pellizzari.