PACC Students Shine at Cooking Competition

submitted by Karina Iermieri, Assistant Centre Director

During this year’s Montréal en Lumière, two talented students from Pearson Adult and Career Centre proudly represented our culinary programs at the exciting Duel de Frèloca. Isabella Rossi and Tien Trieu stepped into the spotlight, showcasing their passion, creativity, and technical skills in front of professional chefs and a live audience.

The Duel de Frèloca is a high-energy culinary competition where emerging cooks are challenged to prepare creative dishes within a limited time of 45 minutes using surprise ingredients. The event is known for highlighting the next generation of culinary talent, making it an incredible opportunity for students to test their abilities in a real professional environment.

A Strong Performance from PACC

Both students demonstrated impressive skill and composure throughout the competition. Bella delivered a remarkable performance, advancing all the way to the semi-finals, where she impressed judges with her technique and thoughtful flavor combinations.

Tien continued the momentum, reaching the final round of the competition. Competing against other talented participants, Tien showcased outstanding creativity and precision under pressure. The competition was incredibly tight and after all was said and done, Bella finished in 3rd place and Tien in second place. We are incredibly proud of both Bella and Tien.

Preparation Behind the Scenes

Participating in a competition like the Duel de Frèloca requires much more than talent. In the weeks leading up to the event, Bella and Tien spent many extra hours practicing techniques, refining plating, and preparing for the unexpected challenges that come with mystery ingredients and time limits.

Their commitment to improving their skills and pushing themselves outside of the classroom played a key role in their success.

A Special Thank You to Our Instructors

Achievements like these are never accomplished alone. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to PACC culinary instructors Nicolas Roberge Robineau and Oli Harding who dedicated extra time and energy to coaching Bella and Tien as well as Michel Ross for helping to facilitate the logistics for the event. Additionally, the guidance, mentorship, and encouragement of the entire department helped prepare the students for the intensity of the competition and ensured that they felt confident stepping into the spotlight.

Celebrating Student Success

Bella and Tien’s accomplishments at Montréal en Lumière are a proud moment for the entire PACC community. Their success reflects the passion, determination, and professionalism that our students bring to their training every day. It was wonderful to see that classmates and staff took time out of their March break to attend and cheer on our participants.

Bella recently completed her studies in the evening culinary program, marking an important milestone in her professional journey. During her training, she completed her final stage at the new West Island restaurant Grill Nature. Bella has now secured a position with the team at Grill Nature where she will continue her culinary career.

Tien has followed a similar path to success. After completing his final stage at Le 9e (a high-end French inspired restaurant in Montreal) where he was also hired by the restaurant team allowing him to further develop his craft in a professional and dynamic kitchen environment.

Congratulations to both Bella and Tien for being outstanding ambassadors and for representing PACC with excellence—we look forward to seeing where their culinary journeys take them next.