ON THE COVER: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TEST THEIR CULINARY SKILLS “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” The quote from the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, doesn’t hold any water for more than 100 Nebraska students working to become the next great chef. In February, more than a dozen teams from schools across the metro proved they can handle the heat and then some. They put their skills to
TAPS & JETS | VOL. 91, NO. 1 | SPRING 2020
the test at the 15th annual High School Culinary Invitational organized by the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metro Community College (MCC). Metropolitan Utilities District is a proud founder sponsor of the competition at MCC’s Fort Omaha campus. The groups used various cooking techniques to bring their recipes to life and fill the
air with mouth-watering aromas. From top to bottom the event featured elements just like any cooking show you’d see on TV. Each team was constrained by a countdown clock as they focused on letting the ingredients shine. Ultimately each final plate is scrutinized by local culinary experts as they taste and provide valuable feedback.
In addition to supporting the culinary invitational, M.U.D also funds two $500 scholarships annually to MCC students to assist culinary students and students pursuing the trades. Natural gas is the number one choice for professional chefs as it is a clean, efficient and abundant fuel.
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