Conseiller Culinaire Provincial Mark Wright rallied young chefs from around the Northeast to compete in the 2022 Northeast Provincial Final of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs (JCR) Competition in Buffalo. It was held for the second consecutive year at the State University of New York (SUNY) Erie with appreciation to new director Dr David Balkin. The competitors, judges, their families and Northeast members celebrated the evening before with Executive Chef Bob Klein’s elegant, ambitious dinner at the Italian Prime at Salvatore’s, hosted by SUNY Erie graduate Russell Salvatore.

Special guests welcomed were Gabriella O’Neill, last year’s National JCR winner with her mentor, Conseiller Gastronomique Provincial Honoraire Yono Purnamo, as well as guests “checking out” the Chaîne and Shannon Jenkins of “Visit Buffalo Niagara”.

Four bright-faced young chefs, Jedidiah Gaskin (Transit Valley Country Club and Niagara Culinary Institute), Joe Baffoe (Connecticut’s Patterson Club), Joseph Youngs (Turningstone Casino and Cobleskill College) and Tyikea MacClean (Schenectady Community College) arrived on Saturday morning ready to exceed expectations. Greeted by a mystery basket comprising whole Dover sole, rack of pork, Jones Dairy Farm’s Bulk Breakfast Sausage, shrimp, asparagus and fennel, they set to work professionally cool under pressure.

Thoughtfully delivered kitchen critique was a powerful learning experience for the competitors. The kitchen judges offered personalised, constructive reviews of kitchen conduct and organisation. Likewise, the tasting judges provided a comprehensive, instructional review of each competitor’s three-course meal.

For the winner, Chef Joe Baffoe, Atlanta in June is next where he’ll represent the Northeast in the National JCR Competition.

Special thanks were given for sponsorships and products provided by Jones Dairy Farm; Jim Binner at Lactillis for the cheeses; US Foods for pork and lamb.

Conseiller Culinaire Provincial Mark Wright received a standing ovation for his extraordinary efforts in organizing the event.

Helen Cappuccino
Chargée de Presse Provincial Honoraire