COD Wins American Culinary Federation Illinois State Competition

Jan. 28, 2015 - College of DuPage culinary students took first place at the American Culinary Federation's (ACF) Student Team Hot Food Illinois State Competition. Five COD students competed against past national winners Joliet Junior College and Kendall College. The event included a skills salon, during which students are evaluated on skills such as butchery, filleting and knife cuts, followed by a cooking competition consisting of a four-course menu including one classical course assigned by the ACF and three dishes chosen by the team. COD team members Shin Balagtas (Glendale Heights), Frederick Estrada (Warrenville), Ashley Sabo (Naperville), Setrini Sison (Naperville) and Casey Waltemath (Elmhurst) practiced every Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the fall semester and throughout the holiday break. They will go on to compete against 12 teams from across the Midwest for the central divisional title this March in Arkansas. This is College of DuPage's second year hosting and third year competing.

Please click here to watch a video of the event and 2015 Illinois State competition and click here for more photos. (Press Photography Network/Special to College of DuPage).