News & Events
Hospitality Management Student Joey Spatola
Featured on Food Network Show on February 2, 9 p.m.
Joey Spatola, a freshmen who is enrolled in the
hospitality management program, will be featured on "Mario's
Restaurant Rookies," an hour-long special that will air on
the Food
Network on Sunday, February 2, 9 p.m.
Taped when Spatola was a Long Island City High
School Senior, the show is hosted by superstar chef Mario Batali
who invited two New York City high school students from the Careers
through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) to train with him in his critically
acclaimed Babbo kitchen. As a "final exam," these "restaurant
rookies" had the opportunity to try to fool the toughest food
critics into thinking their creations are made by Mario's highly
experienced staff.
The camera follows Joey and the other C-CAP student (who is now enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America) during their week of training with Batali, after which they were put to the test. Their creations, including their own signature dishes, were presented to food critics who must distinguish between the students' dishes and those of the staff of Babbo.
In June 2002, Spatola competed for scholarships and jobs in the New York City C-CAP Culinary Competition. He was awarded the Elizabeth Alston Scholarship, valued at $5,000. He lives in Astoria, Queens.
The New York City C-CAP is a non-profit organization that provides foodservice career opportunities for disadvantaged youth through culinary arts education and employment.
