Ramonita Garcia, a Senior in the Culinary Arts program at Prince Technical High School, competed in the Johnson & Wales University’s National Recipe Contest” which is open to High School Seniors all across the United States.   Only ten students from around the country are selected to compete.  The event took place in Miami at Johnson & Wales University campus in April in an Iron Chef style competition.

Chef Richard Collier, Department Head of the Prince Tech Culinary Arts program says that Ramonita is an extraordinary student.  "She will clearly be one of the future leaders in the Culinary Arts field. She truly possesses all those special attributes that contribute to outstanding citizenship."

Ramonita is interested specifically in pursuing a career in "the Front of the House"- a Culinary Arts term for the service and presentation aspects of management of a restaurant. At Prince Tech, the Culinary Arts program operates a Fine Dining Restaurant, with students dressed in tuxedo shirt, black bow ties, and embroidered aprons serving the public with white linen service.

Ramonita, as Maitre D’, runs" the Front of the House" with a tremendous degree of professionalism. She manages her staff (her peers), in running the dining room efficiently and what appears to be effortlessly. Chef Collier says, "I know that I need not be concerned with that segment of our dining room program when she is in charge."

Ramonita has already competed in the state and national level. She took first in the Job Skills demo at the State SkillsUSA competition last year and then went on to represent Connecticut at the nationals in Kansas City last June.

Prince Tech has quite a track record in preparing students to compete in this presitigous competittion. This is the fifth student from Prince to compete in the competition in the last ten years. Good luck Ramonita!

Ramonita's Entry for the contest
Tuscany Veal Chop served on a bed of a Roasted Vegetable Ragu
and accompanied with a Wild Mushroom Aborio Rice Cake