An original pork dish prepared by a pair of culinary students from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids took the top honors at the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s annual Student Taste of Elegance competition in Ankeny today.

Nine teams of students gathered at the Des Moines Area Community College’s Iowa Culinary Institute to create and prepare an original recipe using country style pork ribs. Students from Kirkwood, Des Moines Area Community College, Western Iowa Tech, Iowa State University, Indian Hills Community College participated.

Kristi Beier and Alice Kolder of Kirkwood Team 1 prepared “Country Style Rib Duo” and were named the winners of the competition by the judges. They each received a certificate and $100 from IPPA. Their Kirkwood culinary program also received a $750 check for scholarships or classroom supplies.

The Western Iowa Tech team of Ricardo Martinez, Stephanie Coenen, Larissa Lara and Torrey Brown

placed second. The team prepared “Smoked Country Style Spare Ribs with Baked Beans and Spiced Peach Avocado Salad” and placed second. IPPA awarded each student $50 and the school will receive a $500 check for scholarships or classroom supplies.

The third-place team was Talon’s Talent of Kirkwood. Allie Lanham, Benjamin Jimenez and Kendra Smith prepared “Braised Pork with Butternut Squash Crepes.” Each student received $25 from IPPA and their school will receive a $250 check for scholarships or classroom supplies.

All of the student entrees were judged on taste, appearance and design.

The event is held to inspire innovative and exciting ways for culinary arts students to use pork in their menus, measure their progress and practice working as a team in the kitchen. A team of judges provided immediate feedback, critiques and professional advice for the student teams.

The IPPA Student Taste of Elegance is open to any Iowa college that has a culinary arts program.

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