(WACO, Texas) – Mark Schneider, division director of Culinary Arts at Texas State Technical College, has been selected to compete at Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) Food & Beverage 2020 next spring in Singapore.
Schneider was selected because of his membership in the Epicurean World Master Chefs Society. This will be his first international competition, which takes place March 31 to April 3, 2020. He will be on a team of up to five American chefs, along with a support staff.
“The Singapore competition is touted as one of the toughest in the world,” he said.
Schneider will compete in the seafood category, creating three identical plated dishes using grouper and scallops. He will also incorporate garnishes, starches and vegetables in his presentation. And, he has 45 minutes to do it all.
“You have to fabricate the fish there, which is a little time-consuming,” Schneider said.
Schneider will create the dish and design the plating throughout the fall semester with timed practices starting in February. Some of TSTC’s Culinary Arts students will help him during the 15 practice sessions he hopes to have before leaving.
He will also plan what ingredients to take with him overseas.
“I know what I can get in an American market, but what can I get in a Singapore market?” he mused.
Schneider hopes to learn about Singapore’s culinary scene during his downtime on the trip. He said this could involve visiting a food market or going to a lesson and lecture.
“Food is allowing me to travel the world and experience flavors and spices,” he said. “To bring all that back to TSTC is amazing.”
Chef Marc Silvas, a TSTC Culinary Arts instructor, said students have a lot to learn from Schneider and the rest of the program’s faculty.
“It shows what the students can strive toward,” Silvas said. “They have a front-row seat to what is happening. They can experience what it takes at that level.”
FHA Food & Beverage 2020 will feature more than 2,000 exhibitors in 54 pavilions at the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre. About 48,000 attendees from 100 countries and regions are expected to attend, according to event information.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.
