Now We’re Cooking!

To say Zion Otaño (Class of 2018) is a busy achiever would be an understatement. Currently in his second year at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, he’s majoring in Hotel Admin at the prestigious Nolan School. Zion’s on the Dean’s Advisory Board and Dean’s List, and he also works as a cook at Taverna Banfi, the world-famous Statler Hotel restaurant (Cornell’s on-campus hotel). If that weren’t enough, he’s also the president of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon!

Zion said the highlight of this semester was having the honor of creating and executing a four-course dinner for the Dean of the Hotel School (Kate Walsh) and distinguished Cornell alumnus and industry leader (Alan Rosen) who co-owns the  Junior’s restaurant chain known for their outstanding cheesecake.

(above) Zion with Alan Rosen, who said he enjoyed Zion’s strawberry cheesecake. Bold move, Zion, to serve the Junior’s man cheesecake!

The event, called “The Dean’s Dinner” at the hotel school, is a long-standing tradition and an exciting opportunity that gave Zion creative freedom to develop his own French-inspired menu.

(above) The dinner entree… Chicken roulade with potato puree, a chicken demi-glace, and wild roasted mushrooms.

(above) The lunch entree… Seared duck breast with a duck leg confit, roasted turnips, and blackberry gastrique.

Zion said that preparation is key to making a four-course meal like this. It was especially challenging because he was the only one who knew how to execute his vision, whereas in a restaurant, he said, “You’re making the same meals each day and there’s a system everyone is following.”

He described the opportunity to cook for such luminaries as “epic,” and he said, “I am so lucky to be able to share my skills and knowledge with incredible hospitality leaders and my peers.”

Interestingly enough, the kindergarteners at Los Encinos School are given a writing prompt for the yearbook each year to describe their dream job. Five-year-old Zion wrote, “I want to be a pizza maker,” then added a drawing of a “pizza kitchen.” He’s been a foodie all this time!

What better way to end this piece than with dessert? See Zion’s deconstructed strawberry cheesecake below.

You can follow Zion on Instagram @zionotano or @chefzion_.