Summer 2007 - Hannibal-LaGrange University

Team Boiling Blondes
Team Rojo
Student Activities
Iron Chef
pioneer college caterers, inc.
Applause for food preparation
does not commonly occur
in college and university
cafeterias. However,
the cafeteria on the
campus of Hannibal-
LaGrange College
was “smokin’” from
the buzz of activity
and excitement as the
crowd gathered for the
first annual HLG Iron
Chef competition on
January 30.
The HLG cafeteria was filled
with hopeful amateur chefs,
people cheering and holding up signs
for their favorite teams, and local media
taking pictures and video. The evening was not only
successful for the team that took home the top prize,
but for HLG as well, thanks to the help of Pioneer
College Caterers, the HLG Student Development
Office, Refreshment Services Pepsi, County Market,
and Kohl’s Food Store.
Five teams competed against each other for prizes
and bragging rights for the title of HLG Iron Chef. All
teams were given a pre-set list of ingredients and 90
minutes to prepare an appetizer, side dish, and main
entrée. However, a “secret ingredient” was revealed
just minutes before the competition began. A liter of
orange soda was given to each team to incorporate
into one or more of the competing recipes.
Kyle Brennemann, dean of student development and
coordinator of the event, was pleased with the talented
teams. “I was very impressed with the creativity
that the teams used in cooking their dishes,” said
Brennemann. “It was interesting to walk around and
see how hard the teams were working.”
Cooking stations were set-up in front of an audience
of HLG college students, faculty and staff during the
evening meal hour. Onlookers were encouraged to
cheer and donate money to their favorite team. The
team who collected the most money would receive
another special honor, the People’s Choice Award. All
donations collected at team work stations were given
to support HLG mission projects.
Teams frantically worked to prepare their dishes
within the allotted time. Team members divided their
2007 HLG Iron Chef Winners
Team M.O.M.
(Moms on a Mission)
cooking efforts between time in the
large cafeteria kitchen and at the
tabletop work stations. When
time was called, each team
presented their dishes to
the judges: Rich Cain,
WGEM chief meteorologist;
Patrick Keyser, designer/
photographer and food
stylist; Randy Boyer,
Refreshment Services Pepsi;
and Brian England, area
vice president for Pioneer
College Catering.
Rich Cain, well-known in the
tri-state area as the trusted weatherman
for WGEM TV and Radio, informed and
entertained the HLG audience by filming a live
weathercast during the competition.
Four student teams and one HLG personnel team
participated in the competition. Team C’3, Shelly
Bode, Bethany Bearden, and Jonathan Lemaster; Team
Rojo, Seyhan Hope, Yulia Igheltskia, and Anne Smith;
Team Boiling Blondes, Kathryn Heyer, Alicia Comfort,
and Jenny Barker; Team Hot Pepto, Melanie Logan,
Michelle Smith, and Trey Hall; and Team M.O.M.
(Moms on a Mission), Marilyn Lehenbauer, Cindy
Hammock, and Betty Anderson. Randy Shepard,
director of student activities, served as master of
ceremonies for the event.
The panel of judges deliberated based on the following
criteria: presentation, completion of dishes, use
of secret ingredient, creativity, originality, attire,
teamwork, overall taste, and cleanliness. The teams
were judged on a scale of 1-15.
The results of the competition were:
HLG Iron Chef: Team M.O.M.
Second Place: Team Boiling Blondes
Third Place: Team Rojo
HLG Iron Chef winning team members each received
a George Forman Personal Grill. Team M.O.M.’s
winning recipes were featured selections on the
college cafeteria menu the following week. The
coveted People’s Choice Award was also presented to
Team M.O.M. for collecting the most donations for
HLG mission projects.
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