Chef Stalnaker earns Silver Medal

Chef Lance Stalnaker, Culinary Arts Instructor at Tri-Rivers Career Center, earned a Silver Medal at the Columbus State Spring Classic held recently. He competed in the KC-4 category, Contemporary Hot Food Category with an entry of Spiced Rack of Lamb with Curry Sauce and Chermoula, Stewed Butternut Squash and Lentils, Confit Bell Peppers, and Candied Squash.

Competitors have sixty minutes to prepare four portions of a finished entrée plate based on the protein of their choosing. The competition is judged by American Culinary Federation Competition Judges which included Lead Judge Sarah Deckert CEC (Certified Executive Chef) and Thomas Peer CMC (Certified Master Chef).

This is Chef Stalnaker’s third ACF Professional Competition and according to him, he does it to help his students with their competitions. “How can I ask them to go and compete, and give them the help they need from me as their advisor if I have never experienced it myself”?

He goes on to say, “Just like I tell my students, you cannot come away from these competitions without being a better Chef in every way, putting yourself out there to be judged is not easy, but it is very fulfilling.” Chef Stalnaker has had two culinary arts teams finish in the top 3 at the national FCCLA Conference and says he owes that success to students who buy in and work hard, and to a supportive administrative staff at this school that supports his continuing education and development as well as that of his students.

Chef Stalnaker CEC, CCE, WCEC is a Certified Executive Chef through the American Culinary Federation and the World Association of Chefs Societies and a Certified Culinary Educator through the American Culinary Federation. He resides in Mount Gilead.