Cooking competition brews at MCC

In the spirit of the popular Iron Chef TV program, Monroe Community College will host the second annual MCC Culinary Arts Competition, Friday, March 22, in Reflections Restaurant at the Brighton Campus, 1000 East Henrietta Road, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The competition will pit 24 students from area high school culinary arts programs against each other in a hands-on cooking challenge. Student teams will be judged in three categories: Amuse Bouche (French for 'taste tickler'), appetizer/salad/soup, and entrée. Cameras linked to television monitors will be set up in Reflections' kitchen to monitor each team and judges and observers can watch their work from inside the restaurant.

First place winners will receive a 12-inch frying pan and a gold medallion, second place winners will receive a 10-inch pan and silver medallion and third place winners will receive an 8-inch pan and bronze medallion.

Competing schools include: Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center, BOCES II in Spencerport, BOCES I in Fairport, Batavia-Genesee Valley BOCES, Mt. Morris-Genesee Valley BOCES, and East Rochester High School. This year's culinary theme is Regional American.