Pro Kids
ProStart (UtahRestaurantAssociation.org/Pro-Start.com) is a nationwide educational program that trains high-school juniors and seniors the skills and techniques to begin careers in culinary and hospitality positions in the restaurant industry. Under the leadership of Melva Sine, president of the Utah Restaurant Association (URA), Utah was the pioneering state for the ProStart program, which began in 1996. "ProStart is more than just a food course," Sine says. "It helps inspire and educate our future generation of restaurateurs, chefs, managers and culinary professionals."
Currently, Utah ProStart students from 40 different high schools around the state are engaged in regional culinary team competitions being held throughout Utah. The 10 highest-placing teams will go on to compete on Tuesday, March 8, at the South Towne Expo Center for the state championships during the URA's industry career fair, themed "Passport to Success." The public is invited to the ProStart cooking competitions. The winning Utah team will go on to the national ProStart competition in Dallas, April 29-May 1. In addition, the 13-episode reality TV series called Utah Prostart Teen Chef Masters is now available to view at Ora.tv/TeenChefMasters.com.
Kosher Canyons
Prime at Canyons Village (PrimeCanyons.com) in Park City has opened and is featuring kosher cuisine and Shabbat lunches and dinners, available either to dine-in or to have delivered to your hotel prior to Shabbat (advance reservations required for all meals). The tantalizing menu at Prime ranges from Kobe beef sliders, homemade sausages with white bean cassoulet, three-alarm chili and Grandma Bella's chicken-noodle soup, to steak au poivre, chicken pot pie, mustard-crusted salmon, pasta dishes and slow-cooked lamb ribs. Personally, I can't wait to try the 120-day aged salami chips. Prime also offers "grab & go" selections such as egg salad, turkey and tuna salad wraps, PB & J, a hot salmon plate, chicken plate and more. Shabbat dinners, priced at $85 per adult and $45 per child (under 11), are served Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-9 p.m.; Friday after synagogue service; and Saturday, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Quote of the week: If you keep kosher, the protagonist of your meal is not you; it is God.
—Lauren F. Winner, Mudhouse Sabbath
Food Matters 411: tscheffler@cityweekly.net
