Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Culinary Student Competes in Food Network Challenge

August 8, 2007 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Jaclyn Esposito, of Aventura, Florida, who is studying Culinary Management at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale www.aifl.edu is headed for Hollywood, California, on August 29, to compete as one of 54 finalists in the Food Network’s “Ultimate Recipe Showdown” for the top prize of $10,000. Esposito’s entry - Individual Coconut Chocolate Molten Cake - won her a slot in the chocolate cake division.

“I saw a commercial on the Food Network and decided I wanted to enter,” said 19-year-old Esposito, who aspires for a career as a personal chef or a yacht chef after completing her bachelor’s degree. “I sent a lot of recipes in all of the different categories and they chose the cake recipe. If I win, I plan on buying cooking supplies.” When Esposito is not in the kitchen she dances her limited time away with ballet, hip hop, and jazz, another one of her passions.

Esposito’s interest in cooking and baking started when she was a little girl. “My inspiration was my grandmother. We used to watch all the cooking shows on PBS, before there was a Food Network. She would let me mix and stir with her.”

“This is a great experience for the student and terrific opportunity,” says Jack Kane, Culinary Arts Director at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. “We’re all very proud that she’ll be representing us in the competition.”

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, www.aifl.edu , offers a diploma in the Art of Cooking, an associate’s in Culinary Arts, a bachelor’s in Culinary Management, and in the fall 2007, an associate’s in Baking & Pastry. The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Culinary Arts program was established in 1992 training and educating students to grow and flourish in today’s food service industry in a setting that encourages and supports professional creative endeavors.

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