YOUNGWOOD, PA – Five of the top wine regions of the world were on the culinary tour presented by the Westmoreland County Community College Education Foundation and produced by the college’s culinary arts students and faculty at the annual Chefs’ Table - Contemporary Wine Regions fundraiser held Sunday, November 1 at the Youngwood Campus.

            On the culinary tour, the cuisine and wines of Argentina, Australia, Chile and the Pacific Northwest were featured in four separate dining rooms while the reception offered Spanish-style Tapas.

            The WCCC culinary arts/hospitality faculty described the menu as “a marriage of food and wine.”

            Guests were treated to, among other menu items, a traditional empanada with pepper relish and pablano coulis and roasted sea bass on saffron risotto garnished with mango and a swirl of berry sauce in Argentina; planked wild salmon served with arugula, frisée and raspberry mustard vinaigrette in Pacific Northwest; herb-rubbed lamb chops with roasted garlic demi-glace, grilled ratatouille and quinoa and apricot couscous in Australia; and coffee-crusted filet of beef with a cocoa raisin sauce served with creamy humita filling and sautéed greens in Chile.

            Under the direction of their instructors, the students tested and refined the menus and recipes and prepared each course. Other students worked as beverage servers, wait staff and assisted with educational seminars held prior to the dinner.

            The 45-minute educational sessions, which offered diners the opportunity to expand their knowledge of food and beverages, included “A Coffee Tasting and Discussion,” presented by David DiOrio of La Prima Espresso Co.; “A Tasting of Australian Wine,” presented by Kevin McDonough of Indigo Wine Imports in cooperation with John D’Andrea of D’Andrea Wine and Liquor Imports; and “Pacific Northwest Salmon Seminar,” presented by Dan Schumacher, vice president, Pacific Rim Purchasing/Retail Sales, Pittsburgh Seafoods.

            Adding to the scholarship proceeds tally were silent and online auctions, a gourmet pastry and TV raffle.  Items up for bid in the silent auction were a Super Bowl XLIII football autographed by Steelers Hines Ward, Willie Parker and Santonio Holmes, various golf packages, dining and entertainment packages and a night tour of the Capitol donated by Congressman Tim Murphy.

            WCCC students enrolled in Associate Professor Cindy Komarinski’s baking class made a pumpkin cheesecake, a fruit tart with toasted almonds, flourless chocolate and carrot cakes, an apple tart and “surprise package” cakes filled with berry mousse.  WCCC’s “first lady,” Ann Obara, wife of college President Daniel J. Obara, baked a sour cherry pie with cherries donated by Pat Walt of Madison.

            The online auction, which is open to the public, features an overnight ski package for two at Seven Springs Mountain Resort and two Pirates’ tickets which come with private hitting lessons provided by WCCC Baseball Coach Mike Draghi.  The online auction runs through November 13 and is available at wccc.cmarket.com.

            Proceeds from the event, which raised approximately $34,000 from sponsorships and reservations, benefit the WCCC Education Foundation’s student scholarship fund.

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