Bite Of Apprentice 08

DELICIOUS, SCRUMPTIOUS BITES HAD BY ALL AT THE BITE OF APPRENTICESHIP, MONDAY APRIL 14th, 2008! HOSTED BY CHEF JOHN FISHER AT RENTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE CAFETERIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of the Peoples’ Choice Award 2008: EL AGAVE with Chef Jaime Mendez (himself a former Culinary Apprentice who journeyed out in 2005) and Apprentices Chloe Carrillo, Manuel Guillen and Leonel Martinez. *********************************************************************** * SECOND PLACE was won by The SeaTac Marriott with Chef James Neighbor and Apprentice Jennifer LaFleur. And The Barking Frog with Chef Bobby Moore and Apprentice Jonathan James took THIRD PLACE.

Wonderfully aromatic coffee was provided by Brent McDaniel and crew of BOYD’S COFFEE. Our volunteer bartender was Donald James, DJ, of Eurest who poured two wonderful Washington wines from Mr. Chris Deco of Precept Brands in Wallingford. The Waterbrook Columbia Valley Mélange, 2005, was a great red! And the Waterbook Columbia Valley Chardonnay, 2006, was a very fine white. And not to be outdone, we again had beer from Dennis Gallagher of Gallagher’s Where You Brew in Edmonds. And then the desserts!!! Our own, Michael Higgins of Encore provided exquisite Baklava and Diana Noel of Menu Inspirations made us all happy with a variety of individual cheesecakes.

President Chef Brian Date presided over a program that conveyed a lot of information. We also had the privilege at this Bite to honor and recognize two Apprentices who journeyed out over the past year and who earned their CC, Certified Culinarian: Carol Ann Jenkins and Dagoberto Zavala, both of whom completed their Apprenticeships

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with the help and support of Eurest, Microsoft, under Chefs Jason Cooley and Rich Devine.

************************************************************* In addition to the 3 winners above, we also had FABULOUS bites from the following Houses: Marzano’s in Tacoma, Chef Elisa Marzano and Apprentice Ben Herreid Leisure Care, Fairington Court, Chef Brennan Beasley and Apprentice Shawn Gehlman Elliott’s Oyster House, Chef Jeremy Anderson and Apprentice Pam Long Maximilien Café and Trident Seafoods, Chef Christian Rotvin and Apprentice John Yu Rainer Golf & Country Club, Chef Jeremy Cockerham and Apprentice Anthony Eads

And here are some descriptions of the Bites we all ate: Special salmon and won-ton crisps from Rainier Country & Golf Club; outstanding terrine (remember the colors! and the perfect triangle shape!) and a killer chocolate mousse from Trident Seafoods & Maximilien French Café; to-die-for sweet and savory pot de crème on a cookie/cracker from Leisure Care/Fairington Court; fabulous orange and fennel risotto with roasted asparagus wrapped in pancetta and cold asparagus soup from Marzano’s; divine tequila-lime mussels from Elliott’s Oyster House; and our THIRD PLACE WINNER: Kobe meatballs (WOW! WOW!, how about another! was the typical reaction) with green apple/caramel glaze dipped in outstanding chopped almonds from The Barking Frog, Apprentice Jonathan James and Chef Bobby Moore. SECOND PLACE went to: absolutely delicious Beecher’s Mac ‘n Cheese and lettuce wrapped barb-queue beef, barbequed on the spot! and so savory they nearly melted in the mouth; and handmade truffles from The SeaTac Marriott, Apprentice Jenn LaFleur and Chef James Neighbor. AND THE GRAND PRIZE, FIRST PLACE WINNER, PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FOR 2008: amazing!, amazing! Cerviche from el agave, Apprentices Chloe Carrillo, Manuel Guillen and Leonel Martinez with Chef Jaime Mendez, himself an Apprentice who journeyed out 2 years ago!!!! WELL DONE! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

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