American Culinary Students Create Biggest Praline In The World
Over two thousand high school culinary students guaranteed themselves a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records when they created the biggest praline in the world, with donations provided by US Foods and the Georgia Pecan Commission. The 531lb piece of confectionery was created to commemorate the Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia’s tenth yearly Career Expo, which took place at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta on February 7th 2014. The culinary students beat the former record by 90lbs.
During a period of three hours, students from all over Georgia worked together to cook 32lbs of butter and 371lbs of sugar, donated by US Foods, and 100lbs of Georgia pecans, provided by the Georgia Pecan Commission. Chef, Tony Schmidt, Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen, Smart Scales Solutions and Atlanta Fixtures donated additional ingredients.
The weigh-in was officiated by Dr John Barge, the Georgia superintendent of schools, and Gary Black, Georgia’s agriculture commissioner. Guinness World Records will now independently verify the results.
Georgia restaurateur and celebrity chef Hugh Acheson was standing by ready to help with the praline-making effort; afterward, he took part in a round table discussion with students about a career as culinary arts professional.
The chairman of the Georgia Pecan Commission, John Robison, said: “We’re so pleased to have been part of this record setting attempt. 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 one-day Hospitality Expo provides high school junior and senior students from across the state of Georgia with an opportunity to get more information about career options by browsing over 100 exhibitions. These include culinary demonstrations, interactive round table discussions, and learning more about tertiary culinary arts programs at universities and colleges.
Georgia’s Hospitality Education Foundation not only provides and creates educational resources for teachers and students but also manages around $500,000 in scholarships every year for scores of students who enroll for a chef career program at universities or colleges.
Other graduates start careers at some of the country’s most prestigious restaurants and hotels. Many graduates return later to mentor high school students who partake in the program.
New Food And Wine Festival For Savannah
The inaugural Savannah Food and Wine Festival begins today, with the former Georgian capital hosting an ambitious line-up of events that includes private connoisseur dinners, demonstrations by famous chefs, wine and dinner river cruises, and champagne brunches with live jazz. Running until next Sunday, the festival has a stellar line-up of special guests and should have rich appeal to gourmets and culinary students alike.
The festival is being run by the Tourism Leadership Council (TLC) in partnership with the City of Savannah, Georgia On My Mind and assorted organizations in the tourist sector, as well as wine and spirits distributors. The aim of its organizers is to raise at least $25,000 for local charities, including the TLC’s own scholarship program funding travel and tourism studies. Formal planning for the festival only began in February but swift progress was made possible by an outpouring of community support, with restaurant owners, cookbook authors and many more coming forward to help.
There has also been support from the Food Network, with star Linkie Marais planning to attend. James Beard Foundation chefs Elizabeth Terry, Steven Satterfield and Chris Hastings and Top Chef star Hugh Acheson will cook one course each of a very special dinner and contribute to cookery classes that members of the public can join, with suitable options for a range of different skill levels.
“These are chefs, authors, winemakers and sommeliers that are highly respected in their fields and around the world. It’s a unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and learn from these professionals up close in intimate settings,” said festival president Michael T Owens. He stressed that all involved are friendly people who are happy to share their passion for food and drink with anyone who wants to say hello.
The biggest event of the week will be Taste of Savannah, on Saturday, in the historic Ellis Square. Wine and spirit merchants will be offering samples to taste while food booths will be offering a variety of different local products for sale. The artisan market will be a must for serious cooks and there will also be kids’ activities to keep younger visitors entertained. Later that day, a Bartender’s Challenge at the Savannah Harbor Foundation will offer entertainment for older visitors.
Prepare for Your Culinary Career in Georgia
Everyone loves food. There aren’t too many people who don’t enjoy a nice relaxing dinner that someone else prepares. People appreciate the work that members of the hospitality industry do. Imagine being behind the scenes in a great restaurant, helping to prepare delicious dinners and dessert and making sure that guests have a fantastic experience. If you are looking for an exciting and rewarding career, then restaurant management might be right for you.
The Chef
It takes a lot of practice to become a chef. Many people attend cooking school in order to get the skills needed to work in a restaurant. Others attend culinary arts schools in Georgia. There are so many aspects of the hospitality field and trained people are in high demand. Hospitality management staff are on the lookout for talented chefs who bring new ideas and the latest techniques into establishments across the country.
The Cooks
Every restaurant requires a line of eager cooks, who assist the chef in the preparation of meals. Being a cook requires dedication and attention to detail. Culinary schools train students to make excellent 
cooks. If you love to cook and enjoy spending time in the kitchen, working with others to prepare meals, then this might be something to consider as your next career.
Pastry Chef
Pastry chefs are the most beloved of restaurant staff members. Through their training in pastry arts programs, these chefs are responsible for creating and preparing amazing desserts that keep people talking about the restaurant long after their meal has ended. It is also what keeps them coming back time and time again.
Find out more information about culinary arts degree programs to help you reach your goals.
The Management
Restaurant managers truly enjoy their work. Overseeing everything from the dining room and wait staff to the freshness and quality of the food being served, the management staff is ready to handle any challenge. It take a solid foundation in the area of culinary arts and hospitality to prepare an individual for a career in management. In Georgia, there are many chef school programs to choose from and many people complete their education while already working in the business.
The Owners
Many people believe that restaurant owners don’t need to know the ins and out of running this type of business. That assumption is incorrect, at least if the owner wants to run a successful eatery. Knowing how to find qualified management staff and how to find the best chef available takes practice. Many people who open restaurants after going through a culinary arts training program feel that their education makes them relate better to hospitality staff. Knowing that the owner can always be there to help out during peak periods is very reassuring to line cooks and even to the head chef.
There is a career in the restaurant business waiting for someone just like you. No other career offers such a diverse selection of opportunities for people who want to feel rewarded at the end of the day. By visiting Cooking-Culinary-Arts-Schools.org you can easily find out more about attending culinary school in Georgia. Enrollment advisors can provide more information about the types of programs offered, tuition, financial aid, job placement assistance and the hospitality industry in general.