Calling all culinary students: InsPEARational recipe competition now accepting entries

USA Pears has issued a challenge to all post-secondary culinary school students to enter an insPEARational recipe competition. Students must create an original recipe using any fresh USA Pear variety (Bartlett, Anjou, Comice, Seckel, Concorde, Forelle, Bosc, Starkrimson) in the following categories: breakfast, salad, soup, appetizer, side dish, entrée, dessert. Enter online by March 31, 2011 at www.usapears.org/students.aspx

All entries will be judged based on prominent use of fresh USA Pears, originality, creativity, taste/texture, and appearance. Three semi-finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to Portland, Oregon to prepare their dish for a panel of professional judges. Grand prize is $2,500 cash for the student, plus the student’s culinary department will receive $250 for supplies or scholarship fund. Second place winners will receive $1,000 cash and third place, $500 cash.

The goal of the contest is to reward future culinary professionals for their creativity and demonstrate the versatility of fresh pears across all menu and day parts. The 2010 winner, Keith Paugh of The Texas Culinary Academy was chosen for his savory “Pear and Scallops” creation.

 

For more information, visit www.usapears.org.