American Academy of Culinary Arts students Christian Crawl (left), a 2016 graduate of New Castle
High School and a resident of New Castle, and Hanna Chaplin (center), a 2016 graduate of Peters
Township High School and a resident of McMurray, assist Chef Anthony Nace from Des Moines, Iowa.
Chef Nace won the Chaine des Rotisseurs Jeune Commis (young chef) competition.
CHAINE DES ROTISSEURS COMPETITION HELD AT
PITTSBURGH TECHNICAL COLLEGE
The Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest food and wine society in the world, visited the
American Academy of Culinary Arts (AACA) at Pittsburgh Technical College on Saturday,
March 25. The visit included competition, commendation and camaraderie.
The regional Jeune Commis Competition (Young Chefs) and the inaugural Professional
Pastry Competition took place as five young chef competitors with staggered start times had
three hours to create a three-course meal from a mystery basket and a stocked pantry.
Judges, both professional and gastronomes, from the Chaine des Rotisseurs, critiqued the
competitors’ efforts on their kitchen skills, food presentation and taste.
The Chaine des Rotisseurs also declared the kitchens at AACA as a designated Chaine
Kitchen, one of 10 in the country, indicating that the AACA is a Chaine partner in teaching
and training young culinarians.
“We are honored to host the prestigious Chaine des Rotisseurs at the American Academy
of Culinary Arts,” said AACA’s Chef Director Norman Hart. “The Chaine’s presence on
Pittsburgh Technical College’s campus as well as the designation of our kitchens validate the
caliber of education our student chefs receive.”
The Chaine des Rotisseurs is the oldest gastronomic society in the world, founded in
Paris in 1248. It is devoted to preserving the camaraderies and pleasures of the table and to
promoting excellence in all areas of the hospitality arts. The Pittsburgh Bailliage of the Chaine
des Rotisseurs is the third oldest in the United States. n
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