Spring 2005 issue

Two Hennepin Technical College graduates win gold medals in culinary competition

Two recent graduates of Hennepin Technical College's culinary arts program each won a gold medal in the Culinary Arts Salon competition Feb. 21 at the annual Upper Midwest Hospitality Show in the Minneapolis Convention Center. The competition is sanctioned by the American Culinary Federation and is open to culinary professionals and students.

Patty Leckband of Edina, Minn, took top honors with a three-tiered wedding cake decorated with gum paste flowers. A May 2004 graduate of the program, Leckband said her grandmother was a great baker, and she always enjoyed spending time with her. She credits that experience with leading her to culinary arts training as she prepared for a second career. "The Hennepin Tech instructors are so patient, helpful and encouraging," Leckband said. "I loved every minute of my training there."

Gilberto Caro Navarro, a native of Guadalajara, Jalixco Mexico, who graduated in December 2004, won with a display of pulled and blown sugar. At last year's competition, Navarro won a bronze medal.

Navarro is the first person in his family to graduate from college. When he arrived in the United State five years ago, Navarro spoke only Spanish, so in addition to learning culinary skills, he also mastered English as a second language.

"Everyone at Hennepin Technical College is very friendly and helpful. This was especially important to me as a person with English as a second language," Navarro said. He now lives in New Brighton, Minn., and is employed at the Radisson in downtown Minneapolis in the banquet area.

"It's exciting to see our graduates be recognized for their creativity and their outstanding skills," instructor Maureen Berndt said.