South Seattle Community College student wins USA Pears competition

Nicole Mau, a student at South Seattle Community College in Seattle, Wash., took first place in the Pear Bureau Northwest's first U.S. student culinary competition on June 18 at the Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Ore.

(from l to r), first place winner Nicole Mau, South Seattle Community College; second place winner Andrea Howard, Florida Culinary Institute; third place winner Dallas Hinsley, Texas Culinary Institute

Mau's Red Anjou pear frite, a composition of lightly fried rice pudding molded into a pear shape, filled with pear compote served with pear sorbet won her a $2,500 scholarship. Andrea Howard, a student at the Florida Culinary Institute, took second place and won $1,500 with her pear risotto and pear poached in red wine. And Dallas Hinesly, a student at the Texas Culinary Institute, took third place to win $500 with her sweet potato and pear gnocchi with grilled pork and a Balsamic pear glaze.