105degrees Academy — Level I Graduation

Oh, what a night!

After three weeks of rather intense training towards Level I of the Professional Chef Certification Program at the 105degrees Academy, this evening we held our graduation ceremony, where as part of its completion we each had to present a 3-course raw gourmet menu of our own creation that showcased an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert.  We could design our meal in any way, so I chose to interpret a somewhat elaborate “Chinese Take-Out”.

Present were course instructors Ladan Raissi and Chelsea Smith, including an illustrious panel of judges from 105degrees consisting of Co-Owner Dara Prentice, Sous Chef Don Cashion, Cafe House Manager Kelly Lee, and from the Oklahoma City-based Urban Agrarian Local Foods Market, Matthew Burch.

Here’s my menu (which I also designed and hand crafted):

Here are the dishes:

"Ginger Kombucha" and "Sweet & Sour Soup with Wonton Dumpling"	"Moo Shu Vegetables, Scrambled Egg, Scallion Pancakes, White Rice, and Hoison Sauce"
"Flower Bud Tea"	"Triple Delight" Ice Cream: Vanilla, Double Ginger, and Green Tea with Ginger Cookie
"Citrus with Logan Syrup" and "Fortune Cookie"

Here’s the proud graduate:

Chef Helen Castillo

Helen Castillo Photo: Courtesy of Dara Prentice