HOUSTON, TX -- Culinary Institute LeNôtre student Misa Nguyen won first place and $500 at today’s Glazier Food Expo Chefs’ Competition.  Misa’s Asian-inspired sugar sculpture took the top prize in the student category.

Culinary Institute LeNôtre student Shirley Muse won third place overall in the student category with a $150 prize.

Culinary Institute LeNôtre Program Director of Baking and Pastry Chef Philippe Richard, CEC took second place overall in the professional category, winning $750 for his sugar sculpture.  Chef Instructor Benjamin Estienne took home a gold medal for his chocolate sculpture.

Our senior pastry arts students are encouraged to participate in local competitions.  They were given 16 hours of class time to complete a competition piece for the Glazier Food Expo.

The sculptures are made entirely of a sugar-based dough called pastillage.  The pliable dough can be shaped and molded as desired.  An airbrush is often used to tint the naturally white dough.

Culinary Institute leNotre winners are:
Misa Nguyen 1st of the show student category, Shirley Muse bronze medal 3rd of the show student category, Ahna Ramos bronze, Janie tuble bronze, Kimberly nguyen bronze, Carolina Trujillo bronze, Krissy Ward bronze, Sasha Montero bronze, Chadi sabbagh bronze, Esther Davila bronze, Trinity Quirk bronze, Mariela Alexander bronze, Kristy Hynous bronze, Jamie orlacchio bronze, Luis morales certificate of participation, Jacklyn Gutierrez certificate of participation.