JJC Culinary Arts Student Wins First Competition

On October 27, Nina DeBoer took home the top prize at the Corpse Cabaret competition hosted by the For the Love of Chocolate Foundation.

For her first culinary competition, the Joliet Junior College culinary arts student competed alongside 20 culinary arts students from the Chicagoland area. The competitors were tasked with making a 3-tier cake with an 18-inch base.

DeBoer’s winning design “Love Never Dies” was inspired by El Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, and evolved into a more intricate design idea as she began creating the cake. The winning cake featured lights controlled by a remote control, skeletons, and more to wow the judges.

“As I put things together I would receive interesting ideas from people hanging out with me while I was working,” said DeBoer. “The design just started getting better until I finally made myself stop adding details, threw my hands up, and said, ‘That’s it! It is finished!’ I delivered it the next day and I guess the rest is history!”

DeBoer has received praise from her culinary professors on this amazing accomplishment. Congratulations, Nina!

Image via Joliet Junior College