![BLACK BOX: Vancouver Island University [tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus] culinary students collaborated with instructors and chefs in a tasting competition last week.](https://www.vmcdn.ca/f/files/powellriverpeak/images/people/2830_black_box_4.jpg;w=960;h=640;bgcolor=000000)
A black box cooking competition recently took place at the Birch Tree Café and Bistro on Alberni Street.
The cafe has been the training ground for many up-and-coming chefs going through the Vancouver Island University (VIU) tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus culinary arts program.
This event was a collaborative activity planned by VIU instructor Avi Sternberg and Brooks Secondary School culinary arts instructor Connor Knickerbocker.
“It is called a black box event because the participants don’t know what ingredients they will be given,” said Sternberg. “We let the chefs from each group know that they would have to use pork chops, make a vegetable puree, a sauce and use a vegetable.”
Sternberg said what participants did with the ingredients was up to them to decide as a group.
“The groups were made up of one VIU professional cook student and two to three Brooks culinary arts students,” added Sternberg.
The chefs were from Coastal Cookery, the Convenient Chef, and Costa Del Sol. The instructor of the Brooks culinary arts program also led one group.
There will be an information session for the VIU [tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus] culinary arts program on Saturday, May 6, from 2 to 4 pm at the Birch Tree Cafe and Bistro.
