Delaware ProStart Competition to be held March 10 in Dover

The Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation will host its 10th annual Delaware ProStart Student Invitational Friday, March 10, in Dover.

This is a statewide high school competition where students are judged on their teamwork, culinary expertise and management skills. Teams from 13 participating high schools will compete in the daylong event, and another three schools will send attendees for college/career/military pathway exploration.

Fifteen culinary teams will prepare a three-course meal and be judged on taste, creativity, safety and sanitation. Eleven restaurant management teams will be judged on restaurant concept, menu, organizational charts, restaurant layout and design, and marketing and cost analysis. 

First-, second-, and third-place teams will win scholarship funding from 13 postsecondary institutions. Also, first-place teams will advance to the National ProStart Invitational set for May 2-4, in Washington, D.C.

Students who win the national competition earn scholarships from the best culinary and restaurant management programs in the country. Last year's winning culinary team from Delaware, Caesar Rodney High School, took first place at the national event.

Competition will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bally's Dover Casino Resort, with the awards ceremony to begin at 4 p.m. More than 400 high school students from across the state, including Cape Henlopen High School, will be participating. Attendees will include Gov. John Carney, Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen and legislators from competing school districts, along with 35 local chefs/business owners/academics serving as culinary and management judges.

The Delaware Army National Guard will also host an MRE Chopped-style challenge among three local high schools and bring its Mobile Kitchen Trailer for students to explore. All student attendees are invited to visit a college, military and career resource expo, with 21 exhibitor stations promoting scholarship, career and military opportunities.

For details about the Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the event, go to tinyurl.com/48usfybr.