PCI Wins the Gold

In June 2005, PCI's first class of students signed up before construction of our school was even finished. Before the paint was dry, PCI decided they would enter a statewide competition of Culinary School students. The American Culinary Federation's student hot food competition pits the best students from the best schools against each other in an Iron Chef style competition in front of the culinary establishment. An honored tradition since 1992, some of the schools PCI would be competing against were veterans of over fourteen years. PCI was new, but they did have team manager Randy Torres, who was no stranger to culinary competitions having won a bronze medal, eight silver medals, and two gold medals, in competitions across the country. Plus, all the instructors at PCI are world-class. Still, many people felt a new school had no business even competing to be best in the state. Chef Torres held tryouts for the team, and seven students were selected: Michelle Encarnacion, Kristen Kawamoto, Lan Le, Frederick Lomibao, Reneil Magday, Alison Murphy, and Kevin O'Conner. In the face of overwhelming odds, they began their rigorous training for the competition. With only 90 days until the competition, they arrived early to school for practice, they stayed late after class, sometimes past midnight, and not only did they never complain, they found themselves having more fun learning the culinary arts than they could have ever imagined. They worked and worked until they were like a well-oiled machine. Before they knew it, the competition was afoot. PCI had provided the perfect training ground. The Artisense method is revolutionary, the equipment was new and top-notch, the school was designed by chefs, and the staff was world-class, but would that be enough? Could they be in the same league as schools that had fourteen years experience in these competitions? Who were they kidding?
When the day of the competition came and they saw the caliber of schools they were up against, Frederick had a pit in his stomach. "I just didn't want to mess up." Frederick thought. "I didn't want to let my team down." Well, he didn't. In fact the PCI student hot food team wowed the audience by proving themselves to be the best team in the entire state of California! Imagine, a group of students who had never competed, and had no formal training before they walked into PCI, were now the best culinary team in the state!
PCI is so proud of our hot food team, not only for winning the state championship, but for going to Hawaii and winning the regional championships as well. Later, when PCI flew the team to Philadelphia for the ACF 56th National Convention - where the best chefs, restaurant and hotel owners, and industry heavyweights would be watching - they were honored to be included in the company of the top culinary teams in the nation. Seven strangers just months earlier, brought together by a passion for cooking, were now on the same level with the very best schools in the country. "What is PCI?" "Who are these guys?" These questions and others like them could be heard as the PCI team cut, cooked, and carefully orchestrated their dishes. "I've never heard of PCI?" Well, they have now. Because Michelle, Kristen, Lan, Frederick, Reneil, Alison, and Kevin not only gave a good showing, they took home the gold and took their place as the best in America. When it was announced that PCI won, people literally jumped out of their seats. In her first job as a pastry cook at one of the Bay Area's finest restaurants, Allison recently reflected, "I'm a pretty shy person... but the fact that famous chefs all over America know who I am is pretty neat."