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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Rebecca Robinson
Executive Director
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas
512-327-7555 or 512-350-4621 (cell)
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Texas Culinary Academy Student Sweeps $15,000 Stephan Pyles Scholarship Cook-off
Dallas, Texas – March 2, 2009 – The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas is proud to announce its Ninth Annual Stephan Pyles Culinary Scholarship Cook-off winner, Thomas Seargeant of the Texas Culinary Academy in Austin. Seargeant beat out two other student chefs in a statewide Iron Chef style cook-off today at The Art Institute of Dallas. The competition was sponsored by Central Market.
Photo Credit: Aimee Olson
Three student chefs battled Saturday and Sunday to present a three-course gourmet meal using a pre-determined “basket” of mostly Texas ingredients, including challenging foods such as quail, oysters and lamb.
Traditionally held in Austin, the contest now rotates between four Texas cities; Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. This was the competition’s first year in Dallas – also home of its namesake, Chef Stephan Pyles. The Art Institute of Dallas has long enjoyed a reputation as a top-rate culinary school, utilizing international techniques taught by industry professionals. Chef Larry Matson from The Art Institute of Dallas presided as host.
The 2009 Stephan Pyles Culinary Scholarship winner Thomas “Coner” Seargeant is currently enrolled at the Texas Culinary Academy, a Le Cordon Bleu School http://www.tca.edu/ . He has been actively involved in the school’s wine club and is involved in founding the TCA chapter of the Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society. He also apprenticed at the Driskill Grill in Austin, under executive chef Jonathan Gelman. Prior to enrolling in culinary school he was a musician, touring the U.S. three times with his band First Wave Hello. Upon completion of his education, he plans to move with his wife Katy to Dallas to expand his culinary opportunities.
“This was a fantastic learning experience for me,” Seargeant stated, “..and it meant a lot to me to be working alongside my classmates. We supported each other and went through the entire process together. I am thankful for this opportunity.”
As winner, Thomas will receive a $15,000 check to help cover tuition as well as the opportunity to travel with Chef Pyles to participate in Wolfgang Puck’s Food and Wine Festival on the backlot of Universal Studios. He will also assist Chef Pyles with the Foundation’s Stephan Pyles Celebrity Chef Dinner, which helps to raise funds for the scholarship, along with private donations. The two other finalists were Melissa Vance and Michael de La Rosa, also from the Texas Culinary Academy. The runners-up both receive a $1,000.00 scholarship.
Previous winners of the Stephan Pyles Scholarship include Jesus Lugo of El Paso, Christina Van Zandt, Natalie Guerrero and Jodie Liwanag all of Houston, Susan Harkness and Carolyn Bream of Austin, Tagan Gann-Couch from Dallas and Amol Thanky from Austin.
In its ninth year, the Stephan Pyles Culinary Scholarship Cook-off is one of the largest and most rigorous culinary scholarships in the country. Open to culinary students throughout the state, it is named for renowned Texas chef and author Stephan Pyles http://www.stephanpyles.com/ , a pioneer of Southwestern Cuisine and named ‘Chef of the Year’ by Esquire magazine in 2006. Chef Pyles is a long-time Advisory Member of The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and most recently, was included in the 2009 James Beard Foundation nominations for Outstanding Chef in America.
“This competition is about challenging and cultivating future talent,” stated Chef Pyles. “Just going through the process of applying is an excellent exercise and helps students grow and develop. It requires focus, creativity, knowledge and determination – all of which are important skills in the professional kitchen.”
The competition was coordinated by Quincy Adams Erickson, Scholarship Chair and Foundation Board Member. Chef Erickson is a Paris-trained Le Cordon Bleu Chef and Owner of Fête Accompli http://www.feteaustin.com/. The Foundation’s Scholarship Committee sets and monitors the rules governing the competition. Judges for this year’s competition included:
Pat Sharpe, Executive Editor for Texas Monthly, Chef Stephan Pyles of Stephan Pyles restaurant in Dallas, Chef Scott Romano from Charlie Palmer at the Joule, and Chef David Sonzogni, Director of Culinary Research and Development for Central Market in Dallas.
The three-course championship menu included a Trio of Gulf Oysters, Pecan Smoked Brown Sugar-Glazed Rack of Lamb and a Brown Sugar Semifreddo for dessert. Full menus can be found on the Foundation website, http://www.winefoodfoundation.org/ .
The competition was sponsored by Central Market. Donations were also provided by Nestle waters and The Art Institute of Dallas.
The 2010 Tenth Annual Stephan Pyles Scholarship applications can be found on the Foundation’s website in fall of 2009. Applications will be accepted at that time until mid-January. Donations are also being accepted for the 2010 scholarship fund.
Central Market
Central Market (http://www.centralmarket.com/) defies tradition as a destination grocery store widely recognized as the place for people who are passionate about food. The company’s eight stores in Texas offer a bountiful produce department, hundreds of cheeses, thousands of wine labels and more.
About The Art Institutes
The Art Institute of Dallas is one of The Art Institutes, a system of over 40 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.theartinstitutes.edu/dallas.
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas is a statewide public charity founded in 1997 dedicated to recognizing and developing creativity, professionalism and state of the science research in all areas of the culinary and viticultural arts. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through competitive grants, scholarships and fellowships. For more information visit http://www.winefoodfoundation.org/.
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