TCL culinary students win $9,000

Four Technical College of the Lowcountry culinary students won a combined $9,000 in scholarship awards at the second annual US Foods TCL Chefs Table Student Culinary Competition on Oct. 8 at the Culinary Institute of the South in Bluffton.

The competition drew 14 students who prepared original dishes in three categories for nearly 100 guests. Judges, made up of VIP supporters of the college’s annual Chefs Table Benefit & Auction, selected the winning appetizer, entree and dessert.

Asher Schagelin won the appetizer category with his Southern Spring Roll, while Sophie Tomlinson took top honors in the entree category with Autumn Chicken. Catherine Jones and Miracle Cuthbert shared the dessert award for their creation, The Speakeasy Sponge.

Each category carried a $3,000 scholarship award, with Jones and Cuthbert splitting the dessert prize.

The winners also will receive mentorship from professional chefs at The Sea Pines Resort as they prepare to serve their dishes at the Chefs Table Benefit & Auction on Nov. 19 at the Harbour Town Clubhouse. The annual benefit raises money for student scholarships and academic programs at TCL.

Their mentors are Aaron Cox, executive chef of catering; Michael Porter, resort chef de cuisine; Ian Jones, resort executive pastry chef; and Christina Ranck, pastry sous chef and a Culinary Institute of the South graduate.

“Winning the competition was an amazing experience, and hearing my name called was a moment I won’t forget,” Schagelin said.