Walworth County Pro/Am Culinary Showdown

January 25, 2026 • Lake Lawn Resort


WCEDA's second annual Walworth County Pro/Am Culinary Showdown to benefit county culinary programs and WCEDA's Kareers4Kids program was a huge success!

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2027 Email List

Culinary students from eight local high schools (11 total teams) were teamed up with local, professional chefs. The chefs mentored the students for months prior to the event to brainstorm and try out their dishes.


On January 25, they brought their dishes to Lake Lawn Resort to present to our judges and public attendees. Not everyone can win, but as you'll see below, all these teams came up with extraordinary dishes!


Venue Sponsor

Gourmet Title Sponsor

Gold Plate
Sponsor

Silver Spoon Sponsor

Silver Spoon Sponsor

East Troy Culver's

Community Plate Sponsors

Thank you

Big Foot High School for creating our 2026 awards!

Elkhorn Area HS + Pastries by Chad

WINNER:

• Kikkoman Chefs' Excellence Award

• People's Choice 1

• Judges' Choice (France)


Team #6 - Elkhorn Area High School + Pastries by Chad

Elkhorn:
Teachers:
Jenny Wehmeier & Lacey Scherrer
Students: Emma Robers, Simon Woolever, Khloey Dixon, Eden Stringham

Pastries by Chad: Chef Chad Visger

Spinalis Steak, Thyme-Garlic Butter, Truffled Demi-Glace
Pan-seared spinalis steak with a thyme, garlic, and shallot butter baste · potato purée · winter asparagus medley · black truffle and dark chocolate demi-glace

Palate cleanser: Whipped white chocolate vanilla bean ganache macaron

Badger HS + Oakfire

WINNER:

• People's Choice 2


Team #9 - Badger High School & Oakfire

Williams Bay HS: Christy Torres, Emily Monroe, Lia Durbin, Derrick Benitez, Preston Sorensen

Oakfire: Chef Nicholas Crawford

Thai Pork Belly Fried Rice
A modern take on classic Thai fried rice with slow roasted Pork Belly, coconut infused White Rice, Thai Basil slaw, crispy Rice Noodles and a sweet-sticky Ginger glaze!

East Troy HS + Grand Geneva Resort & Spa

WINNER:

• Judge's Choice, Italy


Team #5 - East Troy High School & Grand Geneva Resort & Spa

East Troy HS:
Teacher Jinnesa Pluess
Students:
Austin Bristol-Landers, Adalina Adsit, Riley Parsons, Apple Houlihan-Johnson

Grand Geneva: Chef Jonathan Gutierrez

28 Layer Lasagna
Inspired by Wisconsin and Lake Geneva–sourced local ingredients and rooted in traditional Italian meat ragù, Bolognese, and red wine–slow-braised preparations, this dish draws from Italian grandmother–style recipes passed down through generations. Viewing food not only as sustenance but as nourishment, we have incorporated several key ingredients known for their natural digestive benefits—shiso, turmeric, and black garlic—traditionally associated with easing bloating, indigestion, and inflammation. To deliver a complete Italian experience, the dish is complemented by house-made focaccia and a sweet corn tiramisu, thoughtfully chosen to balance and enhance the overall concept.

Whitewater HS + Lake Lawn Resort

WINNER:

• Judge's Choice, Germany


Team #7 - Whitewater High School & Lake Lawn Resort

Whitewater HS:
Teacher: Lynn Weilbrenner 

Students: Francisco Alcala, Oswaldo Navejas, David Enns, Alex Huicochea

Lake Lawn Resort: Chef Nic Holm


Obatzda-Pretzel Sliders
Obatzda pretzel sliders are a German-inspired, popular Oktoberfest appetizer featuring a small, soft home-made pretzel bun filled with a brie cheese spread that has watermelon and purple radishes, onions, stone ground mustard and Nappa cabbage incorporated into it and served with fresh, creamy homemade beer cheese. 

Big Foot HS + Pier 290

WINNER:

• Judge's Choice, Thailand


Team #2 - Big Foot High School & Pier 290

Big Foot HS:
Teacher:
Wes Slawson
Students:
Avery Andersen, Natalie Roehl, Frances Counter

Pier 290: Chef Ken Hnilo

Temple of Thai Roast Duck
Temple of Thai Roast Duck with Red Curry, Pineapple, Fresh Bamboo Shoots, and Lime

Big Foot HS + The Abbey Resort

WINNER:

• Judge's Choice, Morocco


Team #3 - Big Foot High School & The Abbey Resort

Big Foot HS:
Teacher:
Wes Slawson

Students: Savanah Woods Levi Kirichkow, Lillith Smith

Lake Lawn Resort: Chef Alex Sadlier



Moroccan Chicken & Apricot Tagine with Saffron Couscous
Traditional Chicken and Apricot Tagine over Slow-Roasted Saffron Couscous with Raisins and Almonds

Career & College Academy + Simple Food Group


Team #3 - Elkhorn Career & College Academy & Simple Food Group

Career & College Academy:
Teacher: Kelly Demerath

Students: Arianna Chiapusio, Rachel Jordan, Max Demerath, Eithan Leitz

Simple Food Group: Chef Young Cho & Chef Josh Holmes

Thai Basil Green Curry Chicken with Jasmine Rice
Green Thai Curry with Thai eggplant, bamboo shoots, chicken thigh, Thai basil, red pepper and jasmine rice.

Delavan-Darien HS + Gordy's


Team #4 - Delavan-Darien High School & Gordy's

Delavan-Darien High School:

Teacher: Caiping Su

Students: Victoria Benson and Aiden Bieser

Gordy's: Chef Jorge Montalvan



Pork Jägerschnitzel
Golden, crispy pork cutlets, tender and juicy inside, are coated in a delicate breadcrumb crust and pan-fried to perfection. They’re served with a velvety mushroom cream sauce, brimming with earthy mushrooms and a hint of fresh herbs, creating a comforting and indulgent dish that’s both rustic and elegant.

Badger HS + The Getaway


Team #1 - Badger High School + The Getaway

Badger HS:
Teacher:
Jamie Lutz

Students: Henry Casper, Griselda Castro, Eddie Ivy, Rihanna Saldana

The Getaway: Chef James Merritt

Moroccan Almond Cigars
Phyllo dough wrapped around a ground almond and orange blossom filling, dipped in a honey sauce.

Williams Bay HS + Jonathan's


Team #8 - Williams Bay High School + Jonathan's

Williams Bay High School:

Teacher: Christy Torres

Students: Preston Sorensen, Lia Durbin, Brooke Nickelson, Kalie Stanek

Jonathan's: Chef Chad Carper, Chef Ray Vasquez


A Classic French Café Lunch
Authentic French onion soup served in a teardrop spoon, accompanied by a Fromage de Beurre baguette featuring two regional French cheeses and a house-made herbes de Provence–infused butter.

Whitewater HS + Delavan Lake Yacht Club


Team #11 - Whitewater High School + Delavan Lake Yacht Club

Whitewater High School:
Teacher:
Lynn Weilbrenner

Students: Kiani Aranda, Jazlin Rios, Payton Brautigam, Natalia Casillas

Delavan Lake Yacht Club: Chef Stephen Porter

Braciole with Pappardelle
Thin-cut beef, rolled and stuffed with garlic, herbs, pecorino, and breadcrumbs, slowly braised until fork-tender in a rich tomato ragù. Served over wide ribbons of house pappardelle, finished with fresh basil, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

Thank you Williams Bay HS musicians, Delavan-Darien HS Jazz Band

and Delavan-Darien HS String Choir for joining us to show off your musical talents!

2026 Master of Ceremonies

Mayor Ryan Schroeder!

Thank you Mayor Ryan Schroeder, City of Delavan, for the fabulous job you did as our Master of Ceremonies!


The following companies donated ingredients and supplies to our teams. Thank you!


What is WCEDA's Kareers4Kids Program?


Every student, future ready.


Kareers4Kids (K4K) has been designed with one goal in mind: to help students plan their futures. By connecting students with hands-on, career-based learning experiences (CBLEs), K4K helps students apply their academic and technical skills in the real world of work while also developing essential workplace skills critical to their future employment success.


[Learn more]

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