The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 46

culinary
TOP: Team Assistant Manager
Chef Randy Torres
MIDDLE: Pastry Manager Susan
Nutter
BOTTOM: Polfelt and Felizmenio
All are well-decorated with multiple awards.
Several Virginia Western students and other local
chefs came to observe this incredible team in their 6
hours of preparation that preceded the dinner.
One observer was Diallo Graves, Executive Sous Chef
at the Lynchburg Country Club. Since he's currently
studying for his Chef de Cuisine test, he was there to
learn and " experience how accurate they are. "
Precision is a major theme in the coach's training.
They're " scrutinizing to the nth degree, " says Torres.
Watching the team practice, onlookers notice there
are more than six people in the kitchen. That's because
the coaching staff is also on hand.
Today, they're there to advise. But coaches aren't permitted
in the kitchen during the Olympic event in February.
They watch through the glass with everyone else.
Also in the kitchen is sous chef Shane Wilder. Wilder's
job is organizational. He can do set up and cleaning, but
he is not allowed to be part of the food preparation. As
a former student of Torres, he came to him and told him
he'd like to participate on the next team.
" This is the path, " Torres told him.
Course 4
Second Main Course
Food & Competition
The National Team Face-off is divided into two parts: the
Restaurant of Nations and the Chef's Table.
In the Restaurant of Nations, each country's team
must feed 110 people three courses each. For the Chef's
Table, ten individuals are served a seven-course meal,
which they watch prepared live through a glass-walled
show kitchen beside the team.
Polfelt has been training with the other five US chefs
in college kitchens nationwide. On November 6 and
7, they visited his hometown to practice at Virginia
Western's Al Pollard kitchen.
Their dedication is enormous.
For Polfelt, the time required is the most difficult
part of participating. He juggles a family, two chef
jobs and full-time teaching work on top of his team
responsibilities.
In some other competing countries, the government
foots the bill for them, paying for ingredients, travel and
chef salaries so they can take off from work.
Team USA is entirely self-funded. They have to fundraise
and gain sponsorships to cover their way.
One such sponsor is Fred Najjum, owner of Roanoke
Fruit and Produce, who donated many of the ingredients
for the November dinner.
He was one of the lucky few people who got to taste
their menu.
While the specifics of their dishes are still under
46
january/february 2024
(saran) wraps to maintain competitive advantage, Najjum
and the other attendees were effusive, though contractually
undetailed, in their praise.
" The presentation - absolutely stunning. The flavors -
perfectly executed - like a dining experience you would
have in DC or Europe. I don't think it hit home with
everybody how exclusive it was ... less than 1,000 people
or 1,500 people in the world will taste that lineup. "
The US team will cook up the chef's table on February
3, the first day of the competition, against Portugal,
Ireland, Australia, Netherlands and Canada.
On February 5, they'll square up against Portugal,
Ireland, Australia, Netherlands and Canada in the
Restaurant of Nations.
Each day, judges will taste the food and give out medals
while onlookers cheer on their teams.
Unique in Olympic events, some attendees can go
beyond spectating. For the cost of 140 Euros ($168),
you can enjoy seven courses at the Chef's Table. Or for
89 euros (roughly $107), experience the Restaurant of
Nations.
When you consider six of the finest chefs from their
representative countries will craft the menus, it's a paltry
fee for any respectable foodie.
Of course, not everyone can afford to make the trip
to Germany. Each experience is limited (with 110 seats
per team for the Restaurant of Nations and only 10 for
the chef's table!), so not everyone interested will get
their chance for a taste. Tasting tickets sell out many
months ahead.
course 5
Dessert
Back to Roanoke
Luckily, even if you can't be in Germany, you can watch
from home anywhere in the world via IKA's online
streaming channel.
The excitement will be palpable as each team tries to
wow the judges in some of the highest-pressure cooking
circumstances on the planet.
But though you may be able to cut the tension with a
fork from a distance, you'll have to stop by the Roanoke
Country Club or Brood to dig in yourself.
Chef Polfelt is bringing home a lot of what he's
learned. Cooking is like telling a story, and the more he
travels and competes, the longer, more interesting and
tastier the story gets.
Roanokers are privileged to be able to read a page or
two ourselves.
Fred Najjum agrees, saying, " I think something that
should be stressed is how big of a deal it is for Ted to be
involved...to have somebody you know from Roanoke on
that team is really something else. " I
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The Roanoker January/February 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker January/February 2024

The Roanoker January/February 2024 - Cover1
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - Cover2
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 3
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 4
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 5
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 6
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 7
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 8
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The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR1
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR2
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR3
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR4
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR5
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR6
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR7
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR8
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR9
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR10
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR11
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR12
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR13
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR14
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR15
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR16
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The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR19
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR20
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR21
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR22
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR23
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR24
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR25
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR26
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR27
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR28
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR29
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR30
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR31
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR32
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR33
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR34
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR35
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR36
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR37
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR38
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR39
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR40
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR41
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR42
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR43
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR44
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR45
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR46
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR47
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR48
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR49
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR50
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR51
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR52
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR53
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR54
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR55
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR56
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR57
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR58
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR59
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR60
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR61
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR62
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR63
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR64
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR65
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR66
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR67
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR68
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR69
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR70
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR71
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR72
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR73
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR74
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR75
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The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR77
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR78
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR79
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR80
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR81
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR82
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR83
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR84
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR85
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR86
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR87
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR88
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR89
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR90
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR91
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - VBR92
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - Cover3
The Roanoker January/February 2024 - Cover4
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