Prostart competition

Prostart is a restaurant management and culinary completion that is held first at the state level and then at the national level.  Nichole's team which consisted of herself and 2 other girls competed in the restaurant management part of the competition.  They had to create and design a restaurant from the ground up.  It consisted of designing the layout, the management, the hours, and the menu as well as many, many other factors that come into play to open a restaurant.  They also had to be knowledgeable in food prep as well as restaurant rules and regulations.  Nichole preps for this countless hours after school and on the weekend.  She spent a lot of her time with her team refining their presentation. 

After much preparation the much awaited competition day came.  She had to be at the competition site at 9 a.m.  I came with her to support her team.  We had to wait many hours until it was finally her teams turn to present their restaurant.

It consisted of 2 different rounds.  The first round was presenting their restaurant to the judges (which consisted of 4 different local restaurant owners from the Anchorage area). They had to make a power point presentation, a presentation board, and a business outline.  They then had 10 minutes to present their business plan to the judges. At the end of the 10 minutes the judges had 2 minutes to ask questions to further their understanding of their restaurant.

The second round consisted of the same judges asking 3 questions about things that might happen in a restaurant and how they would remedy the situation.  They girls would then discuss the answer and then reply to it together. 

When the girls were finished with both rounds the judges would chat and decide who won.  It was several hours between the actual presentation and the award ceremony so Nate and I took Nichole and Carrie out to eat lunch with Carrie's parents.  Then we came home and took Tyler to a party.  By the time we made it back to the competition area it was over.  The awards were handed out and everything was put away.  The whole thing had finished a whole hour early. 

Nichole's team placed first.  Their price a sponsor paid trip to Baltimore for the National competition.  Also a 3,000 dollar a year for 4 years scholarship if she goes to the Art institute.

Nichole only has 16 more days until she leaves for Baltimore! Go Chole!!!

 

Nichole and Carrie in their uniforms

The restaurant management and culinary teams for Chugiak High School.

Nichole and Carrie with their medals and pen that they won!