US: Culinary students create world’s largest praline
The 531 lb confection was prepared to celebrate the Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia’s (HEFG) 10th annual Career Expo, held on Friday, February 7 at the Georgia International Convention Centre in Atlanta. The students bested the previous record of 441 lbs.
Over the course of three hours, students from across Georgia combined and cooked 100 lbs of Georgia Pecans donation by the Georgia Pecan Commission; and 371 lbs of sugar and 32 lbs of butter provided by U.S. Foods. Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen, Chef Tony Schmidt, Atlanta Fixtures and Smart Scales Solutions provided additional donations.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner, Gary Black, and Georgia Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John Barge, officiated the weigh in, which will be verified by the Guinness World Records.
Celebrity chef and Georgia restaurateur Hugh Acheson was also on hand to support the praline-making effort and participate in a roundtable discussion with students about his career path.
“We’re so pleased to have been part of this record setting attempt,” said John Robison, chairman of the Georgia Pecans Commission. “Not only is it an accomplishment these students will never forget, but participation in the Hospitality Career Expo provided them valuable information to get them excited about future careers.”
“The Expo is a great venue for passionate students to make meaningful connections with industry while discovering unlimited career opportunities, said ZR Tasby, vice president, operations, of Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen and HEFG board member. “There is no other industry that encourages students to be the next great chef, entrepreneur, lawyer, accountant, engineer, food scientist or manager. We need all those skills to shape the industry we all love.”
The one-day Hospitality Expo offered high school junior and seniors from around the state the chance to explore career options by visiting more then 100 exhibitors featuring culinary demonstrations, learning about post-secondary culinary arts programs at colleges and universities and attending roundtable discussions with industry leaders.
The Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia not only creates and provides educational resources for students and teachers, but also coordinates about $500,000 in scholarships each year for the dozens of students who continue their culinary education at colleges or universities. Other graduates begin careers working at some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in the U.S. Many graduates return to become mentors to other high school students involved in the program.
For more information, please visit: www.GeorgiaPecans.org
