In the cold-food-platter competition on Oct. 20, coached by Chef Eric Pellizzari, Veronica Marcano earned a silver medal along with the honors of “Best in Show” and “Most Artistic.”

Serving on the judging panel along with ACF judges and chefs David St. John-Grubb, Victor Sommo and Michael Morgan was School of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Arts (SHMCA) Dean Dr. Frank Costantino and Chefs Pellizzari and Michael Vignapiano of Monroe College.

Costantino was extremely pleased with the results. “Our group consisted of many first-semester freshmen who have only been on campus for six weeks, and they have dedicated many of their hours practicing in the kitchen for the past three weeks,” he said. “Their hard work showed and has laid the foundation for promising futures.”

Five students who were coached by Pellizzari as part of their HP 420, Culinary Showpieces and Grand Buffet Class, took home more medals for Monroe! In addition to student Marcano’s silver medal and titles for the cold-food competition, Jasmin McDonald and Lim Hosung received silver medals and Shamel Donigan and Cuauhtemoc Cortez won bronze medals.

Tihelia James, former captain of the Varsity Culinary Team, assisted Costantino with the hot-food team.

The 27 medals was the best showing ever for SHMCA in a single weekend in Delhi! Congrats to all of the competitors and coaches:

Hot-Food Competition Results

Gold medals:

• Kencito Vernon, Culinary Arts AAS, 2013, America’s Best HS Chef finalist 2011, CCAP, NY ProStart, Food & Finance HS

• Sade Aguila, Culinary Arts AAS, 2013, America’s Best HS Chef winner 2011, CCAP, NY ProStart, Food & Finance HS

• Brenda Lara, Pastry Arts AAS, 2013, America’s Best HS Pastry finalist 2011, CCAP, NY ProStart, Port Richmond HS, Staten Island

• Stephanie Cardenas, Pastry Arts AAS 2012, Hospitality BBA 2013, CCAP, Food & Finance HS

• Laura Sanchez, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Pastry Chef winner 2012, NJ ProStart, Passaic Tech HS, New Jersey

• Yocary Luna, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef winner 2012, CCAP, NY ProStart, Food & Finance HS

• Rossella Cangialosi, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef finalist 2012, NY Skills USA,

• East Meadow HS, Long Island

Silver Medals:

• Jalissa Pruitt, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef finalist 2012, August Martin HS, Queens

• Angelina Hernandez, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef finalist 2012, NJ ProStart, Passaic Tech HS, New Jersey

• Shanise Shirley, Culinary Arts 2013, Discovery HS, Bronx

• Kimani Hines, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, Gateway School for Environmental Studies, Bronx

• Enmely Soriano, Culinary Arts AAS 2012, Hospitality Management BBA 2013, NJ ProStart, Passaic Tech HS, New Jersey

• Carmen Albino, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef finalist 2012, CCAP, Port Richmond HS, Staten Island

Bronze medals:

• Katherine Taveras, Culinary Arts AAS 2013, CCAP, Frankford HS, Philadelphia, PA.

• Gabriela Cuadra, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef finalist, CCAP, Food & Finance HS

• Cheyenne Walcott, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef finalist, CCAP, Food & Finance HS

• Nashali Rivera, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef finalist, CCAP, Food & Finance HS

• Ashley Medrano, Pastry Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Pastry Chef finalist, CCAP, Food & Finance HS

• Elvy Gerez, Culinary Arts AAS 2013, NJ ProStart, Passaic Tech HS, New Jersey

• Quency Traore, Pastry Arts AAS 2014, America’s Best HS Chef finalist 2012, CCAP, Port Richmond HS, Staten Island

• Glen Hernandez, Culinary Arts AAS 2014, CCAP, Banning HS, Los Angeles, CA

• Melissa Portalatin, Culinary Arts AAS, 2012, Washingtonville HS, NY

Photo (l. to r.): Monroe student medalists Angelina Hernandez, Carmen Albino, Yocary Luna and Melissa Portalatin