A four-chef team from Naples brought home the gold from the USA Culinary Cup Team competition in Orlando last week. Led by Ralph Feraco, executive chef of the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club, the team faced off against seven others in a grueling five-hour contest in which they prepared a four-course meal.
"The competition was very difficult this year," Mr. Feraco says. "There were top quality teams from all over the country. We won the whole competition last year and went back to defend our gold medal."
This year, the team placed third, but was within half a point of the top team. Because it's based on a point system, the top three winners all qualified for gold medals. The Naples team scored 37.75 points; the top team garnered 38.25.
The team consisted of Mr. Feraco, who was team captain; Chris Jones from the Old Collier Club; Paw Mikkelson of Mikkelson's Pastry Shop; and Patrick Fagen of the Pine Tree Golf Club in Boynton Beach. Donald Dussard, a student at Palmetto Ridge High School, served as the apprentice, in charge of keeping the kitchen neat and helping to prepare vegetables for the chefs.
"The competition was very difficult this year," Mr. Feraco says. "There were top quality teams from all over the country. We won the whole competition last year and went back to defend our gold medal."
This year, the team placed third, but was within half a point of the top team. Because it's based on a point system, the top three winners all qualified for gold medals. The Naples team scored 37.75 points; the top team garnered 38.25.
The team consisted of Mr. Feraco, who was team captain; Chris Jones from the Old Collier Club; Paw Mikkelson of Mikkelson's Pastry Shop; and Patrick Fagen of the Pine Tree Golf Club in Boynton Beach. Donald Dussard, a student at Palmetto Ridge High School, served as the apprentice, in charge of keeping the kitchen neat and helping to prepare vegetables for the chefs.
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