Central College dining service’s Kayleen Vander Veen won the People’s Choice Award at the Iowa Restaurant Association’s culinary competition on Sept. 25.
Part of the association’s annual Celebrating Excellence! Culinary Arts Gala at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, eight chefs from across Iowa competed in the competition. Vander Veen was invited to compete.
“I’m always honored to be at competitions with great chefs from well-known restaurants,” said Vander Veen.
The challenge was sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and The Soyfoods Council. Each chef prepared an entrée featuring beef rib-eye and two soy dishes. Vander Veen’s entry was pepper-seared rib-eye with celery root puree, served with edamame and sweet corn succotash and cognac butter accented with tobacco onion rings.
There was no time limit for preparation, but chefs were given 15 minutes to present their dishes to a panel of judges in a blind tasting. Entries were judged for appearance, taste, tenderness, texture, product use, creativity and practicality.
The chefs also shared their dishes with gala attendees. Vander Veen prepared appetizer-sized versions of her main dish for over 400 attendees. Guests cast votes for the People’s Choice Award.
“I go to do well, but I’m always shocked and honored to get an award,” said Vander Veen. “I love representing Central and showing how hard we work for our customers.”
Vander Veen has been cooking professionally since 1998 and has been at Central for four years. “I continue to compete because I like the challenge and it is a way to refine my culinary skills,” she said. “It is in the critique where I learn the most.”
