Just over 18 months ago, Anthony Glieco enrolled in his first cooking class at the Harkness Career & Technical Center during junior year at Williamsville South. In April, Anthony, now 17, was chosen with 20 other students from across the U. S. to participate in Johnson & Wales University’s National High School Chef of the Year Competition in North Miami, Fla. After a long day of cooking, he was announced the grand prize winner in the dinner category for his recipe for Coriander-Roasted Halibut and given the title National High School Chef of the Year.
A student of Harkness culinary teacher and executive chef Scott Steiner, Anthony won a full-tuition $80,000 scholarship to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R. I., and plans to go there in September.
NeXt:Have you always had an interest in culinary arts?
Glieco: Over the past few years I gained an interest through the food network and other cooking shows. I then discovered the Harkness Center and everything took off from there.
NeXt:When did you start cooking and why?
Glieco: I started cooking at the beginning of my junior year in high school at Harkness. I started cooking because I found it to be interesting and hands-on; now I love it.
NeXt:What did you have to do to enter?
Glieco: I had to create an entree recipe, take pictures of it, and type a menu that broke down my dish into all its components. I also had to make a list of all the tools I used and fill out an application that came with the competition booklet.
NeXt:How did you find out you had been selected as a finalist in the competition?
Glieco: I had just gone to the orthodontist and found out I had to have surgery so I was upset. My dad then convinced me to go to my mom’s work, even though we passed our house on the way. When I got to my mom’s, she asked me, “So what did the doctor say?” I told her about the surgery and she said, “Oh that’s OK; we can do that after we get back from Miami.” I suddenly realized what she meant.
NeXt:How did you prepare for the competition?
Glieco: I spent a good amount of time cooking my dish. I also practiced my organization, sanitation and timing. I probably practiced seven times or more.
NeXt:What was your experience like at the competition?
Glieco: I was super-nervous going into the competition. Once the cooking started I lost my nerves and I did have fun.
NeXt:What foods did you prepare?
Glieco: During the competition I had to prepare my dish four times for the four judges, within a three-hour time limit.
NeXt:What was your winning dish?
Glieco: My dish was Coriander Roasted Halibut, Winter Greens Hash and Celeriac (Savoy cabbage, Swiss chard and Belgian endive), Tourned Yukon gold potatoes, Strawberry Rhubarb Beurre Blanc with Frizzled Leeks and Oven Dried Strawberries. When I created the dish, I tried to use foods that were all in season because that was one of the things the judges were looking for.
NeXt:What prizes did you win? Glieco: I won the grand prize of
$80,000 in tuition to Johnson & Wales University. I also won second place in the Florida Strawberry Growers Association category for my use of strawberries in my entree, which earned me an additional $1,500 toward tuition. I also get to go to New York City and meet Tyler Florence for lunch, take a tour of the Food Network studio and sit in on the filming of his show.
NeXt: Since the competition, do you cook at home for your friends and family?
Glieco: I do cook at home for friends and family but I don’t have time to cook at home very often.
NeXt:Do you have a favorite dish to make?Or eat?
Glieco: I do not have a favorite dish to make because I love to try new things. I don’t have a favorite food to eat either, I like to try new things and I think that’s how everyone should be. People should try new things. Even if they don’t like it, at least they tried it.
NeXt:Do you have a favorite cookbook?Or a favorite cooking show?
Glieco: I do not have a favorite cookbook but I do like the shows “Top Chef” and “Good Eats.”
NeXt:Do you aspire to be a famous chef ?
Glieco: I do not aspire to be a famous TV chef but one day I would hope to be famous by name.
NeXt:Do you ultimately want to become a chef ?
Glieco: Yes, in the end I want to be a chef, although I don’t know if I want to open up my own restaurant or work at a country club or teach.
NeXt:What other activities are you involved with in school?
Glieco: I am on the Williamsville South Varsity Football team and I also play hockey as a goaltender.
Julia Birkinbine is a junior at Williamsville North.