Taos High takes top marks at culinary competition
The Taos High Culinary Arts team won first place in the culinary category and second in the restaurant management category at this year’s 20th Annual New Mexico ProStart Invitational in Albuquerque Feb. 27.
The competition was held at the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown hotel and featured more than 75 of New Mexico’s top high school culinary arts students, who competed in a fast-paced format for a combined total of $1 million in scholarships.
Taos’ team went up against teams from Atrisco Heritage, Carlsbad, Dulce, Gallup Central, Los Alamos, Mayfield, Silver and Volcano Vista.
The culinary competition highlighted the creative abilities of each team as they prepared a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners with no access to running water or electricity, according to a press release from the New Mexico Restaurant
Association. Teams were evaluated on taste, teamwork, safety and sanitation, among other skills. Management teams developed a business proposal for an original restaurant concept and presented it to a panel of industry judges, who challenged them to address the issues restaurant managers face on a daily basis.
“So super proud of team Taos!” wrote Adam Medina, Taos’ culinary instructor and the sous chef at Ranchos Plaza Grill. “First place in culinary, second place in management! We are also bringing home the Hospitality Cup for the sixth time in a row, eighth time historically. We are headed to D.C. to compete nationally in May!”
In 2022, Medina was also awarded the Teacher of the Year award at the Invitational.