Texas ProStart Competitions set to kick off next Saturday...

TRA Education Foundation Sponsors High Stakes, High School Competition
High School Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management Students to Compete in Texas ProStart Invitational

Austin, Texas – High school culinary arts and restaurant management students across the state are sharpening their knives and pencils and spending many extra hours preparing for the Texas ProStart Invitational competition. Thirty-four high school teams will demonstrate their mastery of the culinary arts and eighteen will showcase their restaurant management skills as they compete for a chance to represent the state of Texas at the National ProStart Invitational.
The Texas ProStart Invitational is hosted by the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation. Regional culinary competitions are scheduled in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The restaurant management competition will be held in Austin in conjunction with the state finals of the culinary competition.
Only students enrolled in high school culinary arts and restaurant management programs utilizing the Texas ProStart program and curriculum are eligible to compete in the Invitational. The culinary competition challenges students to demonstrate the essential skills for success in the kitchen – from basics like chicken fabrication and knife skills to creating a three course menu, pricing the menu items, and preparing the dishes for judges in only 60 minutes.
Judges evaluate creativity, plate presentation, taste, teamwork and professionalism. The teams are also graded on how closely they followed all safety and sanitation rules. The top three teams from each regional culinary competition will travel to Austin to compete in the state finals in March.
Competitors in the restaurant management category must demonstrate their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a business proposal for a new restaurant concept. It must consist of a defined restaurant concept, supporting menu and marketing plan. Teams prepare a comprehensive written proposal, verbal presentation and visual display and are tested on their critical thinking skills by reacting to potential management challenges.
“These competitions are a wonderful way to showcase the extraordinary talent of our Texas culinary arts and restaurant management students,” said Cathy Cace, Johnny Cace’s Seafood & Steak House, Longview, and chair of the TRA Education Foundation. “The students and teachers work extremely hard to prepare for this competition and we are impressed each year by their commitment. It is a great experience for everyone involved.”
Competition Schedule

Dallas January 22 Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
Houston January 2 Westside High School
San Antonio February 5 Culinary Institute of America
Austin March 5 Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts (state finals)

The Texas ProStart Invitational competition is sponsored by: Auto-Chlor, Texas Beef Council, Texas Gas Service and US Foodservice.

For media credentials for any of the competitions contact Wendy Saari at wsaari@tramail.org.

For more information, visit www.restaurantville.com/education

Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation:
It is the mission of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation to serve as the resource arm of the restaurant industry by maintaining educational programs and enhancing the industry’s image to benefit local communities, the state and the foodservice industry. www.restaurantville.com/education.