Gordon College Team Showcases Hidden Talents
- by Peter Todaro
Gordon chili cook-off participants posed before the competition
The Bon Appétit at Gordon College team is a multi-talented bunch! Recently their culinary and operations team members alike have wowed the Gordon community with their impressive culinary creations, ranging from savory chili to mouthwatering sweets.
Spicing Up the Competition
Baker Aldonna Linares with Gordon’s chili cook-off trophy
The team at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts have held their now-famous Chili Cook-off for a few years in a row, and each year it’s garnered more interest and enthusiasm amongst students. This year’s event was no different, with Gordon team members developing and making their own chili recipes, which were later judged by guests in the café on the basis of taste, smell, color, and texture.
Despite fierce competition between six contestants, the clear winner was the team’s Baker, Aldonna Linares, who put aside her rolling pin and mixer to concoct a chili made with slow roasted pork belly and poblano peppers, which she dubbed the “Midnight Cowboy.” As is custom at Gordon, Aldonna took home the revered cook-off trophy, and her chili was featured on the café menu for the rest of the day. The second-place ribbon went to Lead Line Cook Julius Lupo for his chili con carne-inspired “How the West was Won” and the third-place spot went to Café Manager Frank Sorrenti with his spicy Santa Fe-style chili.
Cashier Martha Salz hands a cupcake to Gordon College President Dr. Michael Lindsay
Taking the Cake
Another of Gordon’s team members, Cashier Martha Salz, who moonlights as a sugar artist and patissier, recently led a cake decorating demonstration. Martha showed students how to pipe frosting flowers onto a large layer cake, and gave away personalized cupcakes to attendees, which created a long (but socially distanced) line in the café. Gordon’s President, Dr. Michael Lindsay, even stopped by for a cupcake!