Nashoba Tech Students Win Regional Culinary Competition Again

WESTFORD — The Elegant Chef, the school restaurant at Nashoba Valley Technical High School, continued its winning streak by taking first place at the annual Taste of Nashoba.

Taste of Nashoba, one of the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce’s premier fundraising events, was held March 19 at Lawrence Academy in Groton.

Nashoba Tech received first prize for the best entrée – roasted beef tenderloin, polenta cake with gorgonzola and half a glass of red wine with mushrooms and fresh thyme. Second prize went to The Jolly Lobster in Lowell.

The Elegant Chef, run by students from Nashoba Tech’s culinary arts and hospitality management programs, also won second place for best presentation, behind Peppers Artful Events of Northboro.

Taste of Nashoba showcases the area’s best restaurants, caterers, bakeries and breweries. The Elegant Chef was one of 36 dining establishments competing at the event.

Nashoba Tech is no stranger to the winner’s circle, having won the Best Entry award multiple times over the past 20 years.

“The kids did a wonderful job creating a delicious three-course meal,” said chef instructor Carley Capraro. “I am so proud of everything they created that night.”

Students who participated include Sarah Bartos (sophomore, Chelmsford), Ethan Cockin (junior, Pepperell), Rafe Drew (junior, Ayer), Karina Favreau (junior, Littleton), Alexis Fillebrown (junior, Pepperell), Haley Garcia (junior , Pepperell), Keash Hardin (junior, Westford), Noah Nickerson (junior, Westford) and Seamus O’Neill (junior, Chelmsford).

Capraro was joined by Chief Instructor Paul Wilson and Chief Instructor Jeremy Bussiere at the event.

Nashoba Tech also competed in the Appetizer category with Fresh Homemade Mozzarella, Roma Tomato Bruschetta, Balsamic Glaze and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and in the Dessert category, with Lemon Zeppole served with Zabaione and Yuzo Lemon Raspberry Coulis.

Meanwhile, Sarah Bartos won the cake decorating competition at the annual ProStart Student Invitational, held each year by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association at Patriots Place in Foxboro.

This year’s event took place on February 27, and Capraro brought a contingent from Nashoba Tech to compete.

In other Nashoba Tech culinary arts news, 2023 graduate Julianna Abel spoke March 26 at the Massachusetts Restaurant Association’s second annual Women in Hospitality Conference.

Just a year out of high school, Juliana, a freshman at Johnson & Wales University, was invited to speak at the conference after impressing several MRA leaders at the 2023 ProStart Student Invitational.

“She was so present at ProStart that they asked her to speak as a recent graduate and a woman in the industry,” Capraro said. “I’m very proud of her. I always told her she would go far.”