CLC culinary student named finalist in national duck recipe contest

Victoria Moran, a hospitality and culinary management student at the College of Lake County, was recently named a finalist for a national duck recipe contest sponsored by Maple Leaf Farms, a Leesburg, Indiana-based duck producer.

In Moran's recipe, "Spicy Mango Duck Satay with Peanut Sauce and Microgreen Salad," she marinated the duck meat in mango and chili to give it a sweet spicy flavor before grilling it. Peanut sauce, brushed on the plate, served as side condiment. To round out the presentation, Moran complemented the duck with a micro-green salad of shredded carrots with light vinaigrette. Read the full recipe, and view a photo, at www.mapleleaffarms.com/454?recipe=427&reccat=1.

The 2015 Discover Duck Recipe Contest was open to professional chefs and culinary students enrolled in a professional culinary school. Recipes were judged according to originality, flavor, accuracy of the recipe and innovative use of duck products. Professional and student chef recipes were judged in separate categories, each with their own cash prizes.

As one of four finalists, Moran received $500 and a knife set.

"When I heard the news, I was excited and proud because it was my first time cooking duck," she said.

After graduating in May 2015 with an associate degree in hospitality and culinary management, Moran has remained a student and plans to graduate in May 2016 with an associate degree in baking and pastry arts.

Moran said she entered a recipe that she designed while enrolled in a CLC advanced culinary class.

"The instructor told us about the contest and challenged us to come up with creative way to cook duck," Moran said. "Since most people just roast duck, I decided to marinate and grill it."

Winning an award in a national contest is great resume material, noted Chef Rob Wygant, co-chair of CLC's hospitality and culinary management program.

"I encourage my students to enter recipe contests, and Victoria's award shows that you can win if you have confidence in yourself," he said.

For more information on CLC's program, visit www.clcillinois.edu/programs/hcm. Registration for Spring Semester 2016 is now open, and spring classes begin Jan. 19, 2016. For more information, visit www.clcillinois.edu/spring and www.clcillinois.edu/class-schedules/2016-summer-credit-classes.

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