Taste of Fall Benefit: 57 at Four Seasons Chef Joey Tuazon, C-CAP Student Dearaya Baker, 57 Chef and C-CAP Alum Johnny Cardenas; photo taken by Jerry Ruotolo
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Dear friends,
We welcome spring with open arms as it has brought us another extraordinarily rewarding season of competitions and awards. This year we awarded nearly $3 million in scholarships to 175 talented students!
In other news, Jennifer Grausman's film Pressure Cooker will premiere at the LA Film Festival on June 21st! We are hopeful that the eventual release of this inspiring film will raise national awareness of C-CAP and the life-changing work that we do. For more information please read the "Pressure Cooker" article on the lower right and click http://prod.takepart.com/.
We are also thrilled to report that C-CAP held three new benefits this year! Arizona's Heavy Medal Challenge and Los Angeles' Fantasy of Flavors were extremely successful and will be annual events. The New York junior committee also hosted A Taste of Fall last October, inviting young supporters to taste the culinary creations of eight local chefs, six of whom were C-CAP graduates.
One final bit of exciting news: the C-CAP website has been redesigned and will launch in June. Check out all the new features at www.ccapinc.org!
As always, thank you for your continued support. You are vital to our success.
Until the fall,
Richard Grausman Allison Burns-Ferro
Founder & President Managing Director
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Arizona Food Fight Raises Over $20,000
By Meghan Seradsky
 On April 7th, C-CAP Arizona cooked up a food fight to impress the most refined pallets at its Heavy Medal Culinary Challenge. The event dazzled 153 guests as they witnessed Beau MacMillan and Mark Tarbell, two Arizona Iron Chef America winners, fight chef knife to chef knife in a lobster-dish duel.
Under the scrutiny of Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald, Debbie Gaby of Sleep America and Alice Cooper, the evening's judges, the chefs had 30 minutes to concoct a delectable lobster dish. With the help of two C-CAP students, each team quickly put their skillets and tasting spoons to work. In 23 minutes, the MacMillan team crafted a Butter Poached Maine Lobster dish with Coconut and Pineapple Risotto and a Cucumber and Mango Salad. The Tarbell team countered with a dish of Sauteed Lobster, Leeks, Spinach, and Corn drizzled with Saffron Sauce on a bed of Polenta.
After much debate, the evening resulted in a tie, but not without theatrics as surprise guests Bradford Thompson and Lee Hillson joined the fray. Overall, the event was a smash, raising over $20,000 in support of the C-CAP Arizona program! Read more at Black Tie Arizona.
Picture Caption: Team MacMillan: C-CAP alum Liliana Hernandez, Chef Beau MacMillan, Chef Lee Hilson, C-CAP student Dezirea Elizondo
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Watch Out Orville Redenbacher,
C-CAP Is Testing a New Breed of Popcorn
By Tammy Jaxtheimer
When C-CAP Advisory Board member Patrick Evans-Hylton asked Tammy Jaxtheimer, C-CAP Hampton Roads Director, if she could round up some recipe testers for his soon-to-be-published Popcorn recipe book, she hesitated. It was only days after the intense week of competition and spring break was on the horizon. Evans-Hylton promised that the participating C-CAP students, teachers and alumni would be listed in his book. In addition, he planned to make a $500 donation to C-CAP - which he hoped would be the first of future contributions. How could Jaxtheimer resist?
 A quick search led her to 13 willing testers for this fun, tasty, and rewarding opportunity. Croc's 19th Street Bistro - the state's first "Virginia Green" restaurant - hosted the young epicureans. After a day of testing, tasting, and adjusting, students shared their culinary expertise with Evans-Hylton. Their top suggestion: renaming the popular Fines Herbs recipe to Croc Pop in honor of the hospitable host.
Keep an eye out for Popcorn in your local bookstores this summer!
Picture Caption: Katy Harman, Jay Cousin, Blake Sehestedt, Taneequa Kearney, Ross Glazer, Natalie Quinn, Leicel Ros; Back Row C-CAP Teachers: Amy Goodman, Suzette Johnson; Students Not Pictured: Kearsta Lao and Lara Naujokas |
Hansel, Gretel and Iuzzini's Genoise Genius
By Su Harris
When you talk about culture in a C-CAP classroom, you're not just talking about yogurt. To celebrate the opening of Hansel and Gretel last December, The Metropolitan Opera hosted a "Bûche de Nöel" baking competition in collaboration with Johnny Iuzzini, the Executive Pastry Chef at the famed four-star restaurant Jean Georges.
Literally translated, a Bûche de Noel is a "Christmas Log" constructed from a chocolate sponge roulade and decorated with meringue or marzipan mushrooms. Iuzzini provided his signature Bûche de Noel recipe - which includes chestnut praline pastry cream, chocolate ganache and homemade marzipan - as the basis for the culinary competition.
C-CAP students and their teachers were up to the challenge. Marte Valle, Long Island City, Tottenville and Port Richmond high schools (all participants in C-CAP's programs) each exhibited their versions of this chocolate-laden woodland scene at the final dress rehearsal of the opera. Johnny Iuzzini sniffed, scrutinized and tasted each one, giving meticulous feedback as he went. In front of a full house, he called the students to the stage and announced the winners. Long Island City High School won for presentation and Port Richmond High School won for taste. Both winners received a cooking lesson led by Iuzzini and his entourage from Jean Gorges. Read more: A Bûche de Nöel is Serious Business.
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C-CAP Connecting to Generation Y
By Meghan Seradsky
C-CAP is truly embracing the information age! We have created two Facebook pages: Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) ALUMNI and Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) New York City (HS students) to foster and keep participants connected to the C-CAP community. The alumni page targets a national audience to boost our alumni tracking efforts and the NY page reaches out to NY high school participants.
For those of you who can't get enough of C-CAP, spread the word! You can also connect with C-CAP students, supporters and aficionados from across the country at our MySpace page: myspace.com/c_cap.
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LA Job Training a Success
By Mitzie Cutler
This fall, C-CAP LA completed its first job-training program with the assistance of Kimberly Frelow, Assistant Director of the North LA Small Business Development Center. Kimberly taught a comprehensive job readiness class,
coveri ng proper work behavior, punctuality, teamwork, positive attitude, and strong communication skills. Denise Hoffman then followed with knife skills practice, product and equipment identification, and a kitchen vocabulary tutorial. After eight weeks, students received certificates of completion and celebrated with a potluck buffet. Kimberly Frelow and C-CAP LA Director Mitzie Cutler will follow up with career services and job placement for participants seeking jobs this summer. |
Switching Hats - Judging the AZ Final Competition
By Barbara Colleary
After fifteen years at the helm of the Arizona program, I retired as the C-CAP AZ Director last year. When asked to judge the 2008 C-CAP Arizona Final Competition this March, I considered it an honor and a simple task.
However, to "be on the other side" of the judging table was more challenging than I expected. As I juggled observing 29 competitors, writing notes, tasting dishes, and comparing presentations, the words of a past competitor resonated in my mind, "but you do not understand, this is my life, I need to do good to get a scholarship." The futures of these young culinarians lie in my hands!
Putting my emotions in check, I exchanged observations and collaborated with Arizona's seasoned chef judges. I was both pleased and surprised by how often we came to the same conclusions.
Judging was an awesome and surprisingly emotional experience that carried over to the awards ceremony. Witnessing the students accept their awards was that much more meaningful to me. |
Best in Show: C-Capper Wins Best LA Teen Chef Title
By Meghan Seradsky
 On April 12th, eight teenage chefs from across LA County sauteed and minced in a culinary frenzy at the Art Institute (AI) Best Teen Chef preliminary competition. After a whirlwind of cooking and plating, the judges chose Jose Gonzalez - one of four C-CAP participants - as an AI Best Teen Chef finalist.
Jose
traveled to Las Vegas on May 17th to contend with finalists from across
the U.S. for the nation's Best Teen Chef 2008 title. Each competitor prepared Braciole Calabresi: Stuffed Pork Bundles, Peperonata:
Peppers Sauteed with Olive Oil and Capers and Orechietti con Carciofl:
Orechietti Pasta with Artichokes. After weeks of practice, Jose
expertly executed the menu, earning ninth place out of 31 competitors!
Picture Caption: Jose Gonzalez, LA Director Mitzie Cutler, Lorenzo Munoz
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When in Maryland, Do as the Locavores Do
By Meghan Seradsky
The Accokeek Foundation's Ecosystem Organic Farm was a beautiful setting for C-CAP DC students and teachers to learn about local, organic food production. The party of 25 toured the eight-acre farm, located along the Potomac River, and engaged in discussions ranging from how to run a local, organic farm to the importance of eating local and seasonal foods.
Combining their culinary acumen and agrarian instruction, the students gathered freshly hatched eggs and picked the finest vegetables and herbs from the crops to make early spring vegetable omelets. The experience certainly put a new spin on the term "farm fresh." |
Virginia Beach Mayor Says Call Me
By Tammy Jaxtheimer
The Honorable Meyera Oberndorf, City of Virginia Beach Mayor and alumna of Johnson & Wales University, admits she is not proficient in the kitchen. As with any true foodie, however, she loves to eat and knows what kitchens around town are the ones to frequent.
So when C-CAP awarded $283,485 to 19 seniors at the Hampton Roads Awards Breakfast, Mayor Oberndorf had a single request: to keep in touch. As a guest speaker at the Breakfast, Mayor Oberndorf explained that she is hopeful many of the students will find their way back to Virginia Beach after culinary school. But if not, she shared that she was more than willing to travel for fine food! She asked the students to update her on their whereabouts - what schools they will attend, when they will graduate, and where they are working. And once they've settled into the restaurant industry, Mayor Oberndorf warned, they should expect a visit - a promise sure to be well kept! |
4 Foodies is for C-CAP!
By Caryne Hayes New York foodies can spend hours in the quest for the quintessential cupcake or in browsing blogs to find the best bagel. In pursuit of gastronomic excellence, many Manhattan foodies have stumbled upon the online membership association, "4 Foodies." 4 Foodies features recipes and foodie finds for New York food lovers. Anyone who enjoys the culinary community and loves to dine out has the opportunity to meet fellow foodies at the "4 Foodies" monthly events held at various Manhattan restaurants. This year "4 Foodies" has collaborated with C-CAP to provide opportunities for students to assist executive chefs at "4 Foodies" tasting events. These events allow C-CAP students an opportunity to network with chefs and to experience a variety of work environments. For more information on upcoming events, please visit www.4foodiesusa.com. |
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Pressure Cooker
It is a great pleasure for
C-CAP to announce that Pressure Cooker - a feature documentary produced and directed by Jennifer Grausman, and edited and directed by Mark Becker - has been accepted into the Los Angeles Film Festival.
The film follows the lives of Mrs. Stephenson, a remarkable
Philadelphia teacher, and her students as they work towards the C-CAP
competition - an opportunity for the students to earn scholarships and
rise above the hardships of living in Northeast Philadelphia.
For more information, click www.participantmedia.com
and www.takepart.com. |
C-CAP in the News
Promising Student Wins Culinary Scholarship -
CBS 2 Morning News, May 13, 2008
Feeling the Heat: Student Chefs Compete for Dough - CBS 2 News, April 24, 2008
Help 'em, Julia: Aspiring French chefs vie for big break - AM New York, April 15, 2008
Safford High School Senior Wins $77,000 Scholarship - Eastern Arizona Courier, April 16, 2008
Required Eating: Chefs Benefiting More Chefs - www.seriouseats.com, March 6, 2008
A Bûche de Noël is Serious Business - Insatiable Critic, January 8, 2008
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Mark Your Calendars: C-CAP's Upcoming Events
June 2, 2008 A Taste of Times Square, New York, NY - C-CAP's booth will be offering a delectable Strawberry Shortcake dish.
June 21, 2008 Pressure Cooker opens at Los Angeles Film Festival, CA
November 1, 2008 Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic's Grand Auction, VA - A wine auction benefiting the C-CAP VA program and other VA educational charities.
February 25, 2009 -
C-CAP New York Benefit honoring Bobby Flay
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C-CAP New York Competitors Damaris Arocho and David Caban; Photo taken by Jerry Ruotolo
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Arizona Chicago Hamtpon Roads, VA Los Angeles New York Philadelphia Washington, DC
Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)
250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10107
www.ccapinc.org
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information on the above-mentioned events, please contact Meghan
Seradsky at mseradsky@ccapinc.org
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