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May 20, 2025

Cape Tech cooks up victory in statewide Cook-Off Competition

Cape May County Technical School’s (Cape Tech) culinary arts students took home the grand prize in the 12th annual New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Cook-off.
Cape May County Technical Schools (Cape Tech) culinary arts students took home the grand prize in the 12th annual New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Cook-off.
Cape May County Technical School’s (Cape Tech) culinary arts students took home the grand prize in the 12th annual New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Cook-off.
Cape May County Technical Schools (Cape Tech) culinary arts students took home the grand prize in the 12th annual New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Cook-off.

The culinary students left Atlantic City with not just one, but multiple awards for their unique dishes after the NJAC cooking competition.

Cape May Court House, NJ – Cape May County Technical School’s (Cape Tech)culinary arts students are “shell-ebrating” after earning many awards at the recent 12th annual New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Cookoff held in Atlantic City on Friday, May 9.

The students’ shrimp and crab cake sandwich with beet ketchup, a Cape May classic,won gold for the People’s Choice category and a $1,250 scholarship for Cape Tech’s culinary arts program.Cape Tech paired the scrumptious sandwich with a “Beach Plum” ice cream and Jersey strawberry fudge. The winning combination took home other accolades, too, including:

  • A Gold Professional Chefs Award for Food presentation
  • A Silver Professional Chefs Award for Taste
  • A Silver NJAC Judges Award for Station Display Presentation
  • A Bronze NJAC Judges Award for Taste

“I am so proud of the students for their achievements at the cookoff, but also for the dedication, creativity and work ethic they displayed,” said Cape Tech’s culinary arts instructor Chef Stephen Serano. “This event was a wonderful, hands-on learning experience that provided them with valuable insight into a culinary arts career.” 

The Cape Tech culinary students competed against 12 New Jersey vocational schools and were critiqued by a panel of renowned judges such as culinary titan Chef David Burke, Man vs. Food star Casey Webb and celebrity Chef Alexandra Donnadio. Guests at the event also had a chance to taste the mouth-watering menu and cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award.

“Congratulations to the culinary arts students on their magnificent and deserving achievements at the NJAC Cookoff,” said Cape Tech’s Superintendent Jamie Moscony. “Our students impress me every day with their talent and skills, and now they have dazzled experts in their field, too.”

Each culinary team participating in the event consisted of 5-6 students and 2 school staff members. The teams had a budget of less than $700 to create 300 samples of their menu items.

In addition to each district’s culinary team, students in the school’s carpentry program created unique and elaborate stations for the food to be displayed.