Celebrity Chefs Return with Students in the Mix

Celebrity Chefs Return with Students in the Mix
Posted on 10/31/2024
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OCTOBER 31, 2024 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Director of Public Relations

352.671.7734 w ◊ 352.840.3265 c

[email protected]

 

CELEBRITY CHEFS RETURN TOMORROW

WITH STUDENTS IN THE MIX

 

MARION COUNTY – Five nationally-acclaimed celebrity chefs will share their experiences with Marion County middle and high school culinary arts students tomorrow, Friday, November 1, as part of a local food festival.

The celebrity chefs are in Ocala this weekend participating in a culinary celebration at the World Equestrian Center. This year’s lineup includes:

  • Esther Choi, owns Mokbar, with locations in Chelsea Market, Midtown, New Jersey, and soon Las Vegas, as well as a partner at Ms. Yoo. Her cooking blends traditional and modern Korean influences with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Choi began her culinary education at 14 and hosts Heat Eaters on First We Feast and co-hosts Food Network’s competition show 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing.
  • Lorena Garcia, a native Venezuelan and Latin flavor specialist whose appearances on Top Chef Masters and America’s Next Great Restaurant put her in the international culinary spotlight. Her global take on Latin cuisine fuses classic technique with Latin ingredients.
  • Rashad Jones, an MCPS graduate and national award-winning pitmaster who calls Ocala home and operates Big Lee’s BBQ. Jones is host of the hit Food Network show Eat, Sleep, BBQ and earned the title of “barbeque king” with first-place finishes in season three of Food Network’s series, BBQ Brawl, and Guy’s Big Project.
  • Yohann Le Bescond, who leads the pastry program at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center and seven of its on-site eateries and recently appeared on Food Network’s Summer Baking Championship program. Restaurant Hospitality named him to its 2023 Power List of notable chefs around the world.
  • Marc Murphy, who regularly appears as a judge on Food Network’s top-rated shows including Chopped, Guy’s Grocery Games, Guy’s Ranch Kitchen, Beat Bobby Flay, and more. He currently hosts intimate dining events at MM Kitchen Studio in New York City and brings more than 30 years of experience from kitchens worldwide.

All five celebrity chefs will visit middle and high school culinary classrooms based on the following schedule:

  • CELEBRITY CHEF: Rashad Jones (returns to his alma mater)

    Lake Weir High School (10351 SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala, 34472)

    TIME: 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

    Lake Weir Middle (10220 SE Sunset Harbor Rd., Summerfield, 34491)

    TIME: 12 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

     

  • CELEBRITY CHEF: Esther Choi

    Osceola Middle School (526 SE Tuscawilla Ave., Ocala, 34471)

    TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

    Forest High School (5000 SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala, 34480)

    TIME: 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

     

  • CELEBRITY CHEF: Marc Murphy

    Belleview Middle (10500 SE 36 Ave., Belleview, 34420)

    TIME: 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

    Belleview High School (10400 SE 36 Ave., Belleview, 34420)

    TIME: 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

     

  • CELEBRITY CHEF: Lorena Garcia

    Dunnellon Middle School (21005 Chestnut St., Dunnellon, 34431)

    TIME: 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

    Dunnellon High School (10055 SW 180 Ave. Rd., Dunnellon, 34421)

    TIME: 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

     

  • CELEBRITY CHEF: Yohann Le Bescond

Fort McCoy School (16160 NE Hwy 315, Ft. McCoy, 32134)

TIME: 8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Marion Technical College Extension (MTI) (1614 E. Fort King St., Ocala, 34471)

TIME: 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

These celebrity chef visits bring real-life experiences and face-to-face interactions to students considering Culinary careers. With hundreds of MCPS students involved in Culinary Arts programs, the visits reinforce industry growth and the need to provide graduates prepared to fill positions in the Culinary field.

            WEC has once again designated the Public Education Foundation of Marion County as a recipient of the festival’s fund-raising efforts.

WEC’s impact mission for the event raises funds supporting MCPS culinary programs and brings talented, celebrity chefs to Ocala to inspire students and others to pursue careers in Culinary and Hospitality.

            Culinary programs are offered locally through the MCPS Career and Technical Education Department.

            For more information on the culinary celebration visit this link.

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