Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]
(St. Petersburg, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA)’s Pinellas Chapter is proud to host its 10th Annual Culinary Student Invitational. The competition, which features more than 50 high school ProStart students from across Pinellas County, is scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2015 at the Derby Club Restaurant. The teams will be judged on how well they prepare a gourmet meal and a dessert, plus their creativity with designing an edible centerpiece.
“These students are truly the future of Florida’s hospitality industry and we are proud to support them as they craft their skills,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “This is an event we look forward to every year because it gives students a unique opportunity to showcase their talents in their hometown and to learn from some of best in the business.”
All phases will be timed and judged on nationally based criteria by some of the Tampa Bay area’s top culinary experts including: Chef John Harris of the Sheraton Sand Key, Chef Chris Ponte of Cafe Ponte, Chef Tyson Grant of Parkshore Grill, Vice President of Culinary/Food at HSN Allyson Holt, Chef Ana Granucci of 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House, Executive Sous Chef Alon Hershkowitz of the Renaissance Vinoy and Executive Chef Karen Gebhardt of the St. Petersburg Marriott. Following the competition, students will have the opportunity to interact with the culinary mentors to learn more about potential career paths.
The cost to attend the event is $20 per person or $150 per table sponsor. Event details are as follows:
WHAT:
10th Annual Culinary Student Invitational
WHEN:
Monday, January 26, 2015
9:15 – 10:30 AM: Competition
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM: Derby Lane Buffet Lunch
WHERE:
Derby Club Restaurant
10490 Gandy Boulevard
St. Petersburg, 33702
*Media is invited to attend
To register for the event, please email at [email protected] or click here to see the event flyer.
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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go towww.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.