Culinary students advance to regional competition

Orange Coast College’s culinary arts students have won a state food championship for the ninth year, which advances them to a regional competition in April.

The students won the California State Hot Food Team Competition last month at the Art Institute of California in San Diego.

The event, which is sponsored by the American Culinary Federation, is a two-part competition where schools race to complete a four-course meal in 90 minutes and try to rack up points in a 80-minute timed skills phase.

Ciara Crivello, of Costa Mesa; Stephanie Duda, of Costa Mesa; Molly Grundy, of Huntington Beach; Brittney Johnson, of Huntington Beach; and Oscar Orozco, of Garden Grove, competed on the team.

OCC beat out the Art Institute and Los Angeles Mission College.

The students will compete in the American Culinary Federation’s Western Regional Competition from April 29 to May 2 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

—Britney Barnes