Madison Area Technical College (MATC) students excelled at the 2004 College Student Culinary Arts Competition held March 10 in Milwaukee. Competing students took home one gold, 14 silver and three bronze medals. Heather Huber earned the gold medal, one of only five presented at the competition.

Using a challenging dual entrée of catfish and duck, students designed and presented beautifully plated meals that were judged by experienced chefs from around Wisconsin. The plated food was glazed in aspic, a jelly-like preservative. Plates were judged on appearance, presentation and creativity, not taste. Judges used a 100-point scale to evaluate each plate and awarded gold, silver and bronze medals to the top-ranking entries.

“The professionalism and culinary skill displayed by these students was impressive,” said Susan Quam, head of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation.

Over 70 students from eight Wisconsin technical colleges participated in the event. Overall, the judges awarded 31 bronze medals, 37 silver medals and only five gold medals. First, second and third place finishers also received cash prizes. This year's College Student Culinary Arts Competition was sponsored by U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish and Maple Leaf Farms.

Silver medalists

Bronze medalists

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