Mat-Su Tech High juniors win culinary competition

WASILLA — Two Mat-Su Technical High School teams won big this year at the annual Sysco Alaska ProStart Invitational, held Jan. 28 at the Lucy Cuddy Center at University of Alaska Anchorage.

A team of Mat-Su Tech juniors took first place in the Culinary competition, while the seniors won third. Both teams will go on to compete at the national ProStart competition in South Carolina in late April.

For the competition, each team had to serve up a three-course meal in under an hour.

The winning team served up a hoisin-glazed Alaska scallop with ginger and sesame sautéed asparagus; grilled Alaska halibut with Delta barley couscous, grilled asparagus and a classic hollandaise; and handmade cannoli with mascarpone and ricotta filling on a silky lemon-curd base, with candied orange and lemon zest.

“We tried to keep it as close to Alaskans as possible,” said Mat-Su Tech culinary instructor Chef Mike Graham.

The Mat-Su Tech seniors served a pan-seared scallop with strawberry salsa; mustard marinated grilled lamb chop with Yukon-gold mashed potatoes and a rosemary pinot-noir reduction, plus Alaska root vegetables served in a hash; and chocolate pots de crème topped with cherries.

The juniors garnered an engraved cutting board commemorating their first-place win.