GTCC Team Wins National Culinary Quiz Championship

A group of students from Guilford Technical Community College won a national culinary quiz on Sunday. The five-member team beat out teams from New York and Washington states to earn the title.

Think of it as Jeopardy for the Food Network. Do you know the term for fermented garlic? It's black garlic. And how much do you think you really know about nutrition?  

Patrick Sanecki, an assistant professor of culinary arts, coaches Guilford Tech's culinary trivia team. He describes the competition as Quiz Bowl style centered around food. There's no cooking involved. Instead, the matches rely on quick thinking.

“There was a nutrition category this year that was all proportions, so you had to know to the ounce what proportions Americans should be eating,” he says.

And also in-depth questions on such topics such as seafood. Not only is the win a feather in the cap for Guilford Tech, the competition also teaches teamwork.

“It really helps improve their academic standing at the college level," Saneski says. "It keeps them sharp and interested in the industry. So besides all the stuff they see and do with their hands, it reinforces that through team building and learning.”

The team went to the national finals last year, but didn't win. The Culinary Knowledge Bowl is sponsored by the American Culinary Federation, a chef organization with more than 200 chapters across the country.