tF
FOR YOUNG ACF CHEF
s a senior in high school, Chef Taylor DiBiase took home fourth place in the Northeast A regional competition -- she was the first high school student to participate in that competition. DiBiase was instructed to make a dessert that utilized bananas, oranges and chocolate. Elbowing out chefs with more experience, she created an orange and ginger cake with blood orange compote; banana gnocchi with dark rum sauce; spiced banana donut atop dark chocolate feuilletine soil with orange blouson tuille; and piped chocolate decor with orange crème anglaise and blood orange syrup. DiBiase balanced preparing for this competition alongside her studies at Western Suffolk BOCES’ culinary program, her academic career, and a small business called TD Kitchen, which makes custom cakes, cookies, and party favors. DiBiase developed that business after her group of friends loved her cookies and suggested she make a business out of it. All of this passion for baking began back in middle school; DiBiase was always cooking with her father and watched several cooking shows including her favorite, the Great British Bake Off. Her mom, who is a teacher, mentioned that perhaps she would enjoy the BOCES culinary program. She has flourished in this program thanks to the mentoring from Chef Spyro and Chef Kozak. In March, DiBiase was recognized by the American Culinary Federation’s Long Island chapter as Student Member of the Year. Now, DiBiase is enjoying the sweet taste of victory from cooking competitions she’s participated in with the assistance of the ACF’s Long Island chapter and preparing for another competition in June.
She will attend Johnson & Wales in the fall on a $20,000 scholarship, which she won at a competition that started with more than 200 applicants.
While baking was always in the back of her mind as something she enjoyed, she didn’t know that she’d wind up making a career out of it. DiBiase would encourage any young person with a passion for cooking or baking to pursue it as far as they want to take it. She’s grateful for the support of her teachers and mentors at the ACF and encourages others to join organizations such as this because it “could open so many doors for you.” “I didn’t realize how well I could do until I started putting myself out there,” DiBiase said.
HOSPITALITY NEWS MAY | Page 55
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