RANDY ECONOMY: MY WORLD: Israel Gomez wins 4th Annual SEROP-Sheraton Cerritos Top Chef Competition

ISRAEL GOMEZ: THE TOP STUDENT CHEF!

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Dazzles judges with an mouthwatering “Cerritos Veggie Cheese Steak”

By Randy Economy

LCCN Staff Reporter

Israel Gomez, a student from Cerritos High School is the “hottest” student chef in town. Last week, before a panel of nearly 20 judges, Gomez captured the 4^th Annual Southeast Regional Occupation Program 2011 Top Chef Competition.

The event was held at the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel inside the Grille 91, under the guidance of Executive Chef Carlos Garcia.

Chef Garcia has been the instructor for the SEROP student culinary arts program for the past three school years. “This is becoming of the elite student chef programs anywhere in Southern California,” said Garcia.

CHEF CARLOS GARCIA... FROM THE SHERATON CERRITOS!

“This is more about capturing the passion of young people to become the next generation of chefs here in America. We not only teach the fundamental principles about how a major kitchen operates, we also teach life skills and how to turn a passion into an art form,” Garcia said.

Gomez dazzled a panel of more than 15 judges during this year’s competition with a mouthwatering “Cerritos Veggie Cheese Steak Sandwich.”

Garcia challenged this semester’s chefs to create a dish that represented what you would want to eat as if it was “your last meal on earth.”

The winner! Cerritos Veggie Cheese steak!

For Gomez, his ideal “last meal” turned out to be the best of the competition. Calling his creation a “Cerritos Cheese Steak Sandwich” he used a variety of fresh vegetables including zucchini, tomatoes, green and red peppers, mushrooms, and white cheeses on a freshly baked roll that had judges “taste buds” wanting more.

Area high school students from Cerritos, Gahr, and Whitney and Artesia high schools participate in the course that requires students to spend several hours each and every week to be at the Sheraton to learn the art of cooking.

Serving as Judges this year were Gil Montano, Superintendent of the Southeast ROP; Maynard Law, Southeast ROP Board Member and President of the ABC School Board; Jesse Urquidi, Southeast ROP Board Member; Dr. Gary Smuts, Superintendent of the ABC USD; Dr. Ruth Perez, Superintendent of the Norwalk-La Mirada USD; Dr. Linda Lacey, President of Cerritos College; Steve Richardson, Executive Director of the Cerritos College Foundation; Denise Strong, Coordinator for Southeast ROP; Debbie Colpean, Human Resource Coordinator at the Southeast ROP; Yesenia Plascencia, Human Resource Director of the Sheraton Cerritos; Randy Economy, Reporter Los Cerritos Community News; Jerry Bernstein, Editor Los Cerritos Community News, Janice Peterson, Principal at Cerritos High School; Denise Hunter, representing Whitney High School; Cristina Riveroll, the General Manager of the Sheraton Cerritos.

“This is one of the most rewarding programs we offer at the SEROP,” said Superintendent Montano. “It always amazes me what creative minds we have in this program, and it keeps getting better and better,” he said.

Also participating in this year’s event were student chefs Harry Song (Korean BBQ with pork belly in a tangy sauce); Nandi Best (Waffle Battered Fried Chicken with a remulade sauce and Vermont maple syrup); Lucas Han (Chinese-Korean Noodles with New York Steak and veggies); James Yon (Asian Taco with pork belly and Kiamichi); Yoonah Jeon (Strawberry, banana, blueberry and nut crepe), and Mitchell Lin with a pizza bread with tomatoes, sausage, cheeses, and bbq sauce.