The Food Truck Challenge

Earlier this week, Moraine Park first-year Culinary Arts students hosted their first public event–The Food Truck Challenge.

The students were tasked with creating their own food truck menu. There were five students participating. Moraine Park employees were invited to sample each vendor and leave a tip to vote for their favorite team.

The Culinary students selected their menus two weeks ago and had five hours to prepare their dishes.

The Food Truck Challenge winner was LuAnne Salmon, who made Szechuan chicken with spicy peanut sauce, fried rice, and Thai beef cucumber salad. LuAnne has always had a love for cooking and considered opening her own food truck 10 years ago. The items she made at the Food Truck Challenge were going to be on her menu. Although she never opened her food truck, she has had time to prepare the food to perfection.

The Food Truck Challenge participants and their dishes:

LuAnne Salmon, Asian theme: Szechuan chicken with spicy peanut sauce, fried rice, and Thai beef cucumber salad

Calesha Krenzke, Nigerian theme: Chicken and beef suya with a red cabbage side salad

Preston Schmuho, Spanish theme: Beef empanadas and two salsas

Mia Mihajlovic, Serbian theme: Gibanica (egg-based pastry), Cevaps (beef and pork meatballs), and Ajvar (red bell pepper and eggplant puree sauce)

Alex Kollaszar, comfort foods: Creamy sweet potato soup and panini with salami, hot ham, mozzarella, and a tomato-mayo sauce

For more information about Moraine Park’s Culinary Arts program, visit morainepark.edu/academics/programs/culinary-arts/.