Really Cookin'

Zack Sklar turns his passion into a vocation
and an award-winning skill.

expected to excel and did it."
Sklar has taken his skills to a higher level, winning
Staff Writer
several culinary competitions, including last April's
Michigan State SkillsUSA-VICA contest in Lansing,
hile some adults struggle all their life to
which
earned him a $10,000 college scholarship.
find their niche, Zack Sklar realized his
"The
competition was four hours long," he said.
halfway through high school.
Zack Sklar displays his culinary talents.
"We
had
to make a six-course meal after being given
"I have a passion for food," said Sklar, 18, of
Working under the restaurant's executive chef, Sklar
Farmington Hills. "I never liked waking up and going specific ingredients and guidelines. We were watched
to see how much we knew about everything, from
also does hot food preparation and acts as a "pantry
to school for math, but I love waking up to cook."
sanitation skills to presentation to knife usage. And
chef," making desserts, pastries and cold appetizers
Since his junior year, he has split his days between
then points were given for actual taste."
and salads.
academic classes at North Farmington High School
On Thursday, June 24, Sklar will be in Kansas City,
"There's not a margin for error there," he said. "It's
and culinary arts classes at the Oakland Schools
Mo.,
competing
in
the
National
SkillsUSA-VICA
not
like at the Tech Center, where if something
Technical Campus Southwest in Walled Like.
championship, with tasks geared toward the commer-
burned it was a learning process."
"Going to the Tech Center was the best decision I
cial restaurant business, something he knows quite a
And as if he didn't spend enough time in the
made in my high school career," Sklar said. "I was 15,
bit about.
kitchen, Sklar also caters parties from his home for
and I knew from the minute I got there I was doing
For the last two years, after-school hours and week-
friends.
the right thing."
ends
have typically been reserved for his job at Emily's
A June 6 graduate of North Farmington, he is get-
At the Tech Center, he became the culinary manag-
restaurant
in
Northville.
ting
ready to spend the next three years in Hyde Park,
er, allowing him to help teach other students, create
"Sometimes
on
a
Friday,
I
go
there
straight
from
N.Y.,
at the Culinary Institute of America. "It's the
menus and help supervise catered events for up to
school
at
3
p.m.
and
stay
until
11,
and
then
go
back
Harvard
of cooking schools," said the future chef.
600 guests.
_ Saturday from noon to midnight," Sklar said. .
"And if I win nationals, the prize would cover the
"Sklar was a leader in the culinary lab," said Allen
"I do everything from prep to expedite, which is
$125,000 tuition --- and give me a completely free
Beckner, dean of Oakland Schools Technical Campus
making
sure all the food comes out hot, goes to the
ride through school." El
Southwest. "Other students understood and respected
right table, looks good and is cooked properly."
his knowledge and abilities. He understood what was

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN

W

New Arrivals

May 27
Lesley (Pevos) and Andy Gutman are
humbled at the beauty of the birth of
their daughter, Riley Claire. They vow
to offer her a family and home filled
with a lifetime of love and affection.
Proud grandparents are Joni Pevos,
Sharon and Mitch Baker and Mark and
Lorene Gutman. Riley is named in
honor and memory of her maternal
grandfather the late Raphael(Ray) Pevos.

May 21
Sgt. Steven and Ilishia Adler of
Oceanside (Camp Pendleton), Calif., are
thrilled to announce the birth of their
first child, Andrew Jacob Adler (Shneur
Zalman). Proud and excited grandpar-
ents are Sherryl and Ron Anctil of Las
Vegas, Nev.; Cantor Usher and Sandy
Adler of Oak Park; Michelle and Phil
Iacobacci of Ramona, Calif.; and Gary
and Sheryl French of Tracys Landing,
Md. Thrilled great-grandmothers are
Anita Moss of Las Vegas and Muriel
French of Charleston, W.Va. Andrew's
Hebrew name is after his paternal great-
great-grandfather Sigmund Steinfeld.

&,4

6/18

2004

56

May 18
Danielle (Lett) and Michael Randel of
Commerce Township are delighted to
announce the birth of their daughter,
Lindsay Blair (Golda Ester). Welcoming
Lindsay home with hugs and kisses is
big sister Ali Sydney. Kvelling grandpar-
ents are Moreen and Marshall Lett of
West Bloomfield and Carol and
Norman Randel of Farmington Hills.
Thrilled great-grandparents are Jesse and
Janette Antman of Commerce
Township. Lindsay Blair is named in
loving memory of her maternal great-
grandmother Goldie Lett and her pater-
nal great-grandmother Ester Randel.

April 27
Marla (Stoller) and Dr. Larry Shapiro
welcome with love the birth of their
daughter, Jaclyn Nicole. Proud grand-
parents are Ken and Judi Stoller of
Farmington Hills. Also sharing in their
happiness is great-grandmother Phyllis
Stoller of West Bloomfield. Jadyn is
named in loving memory of her grand-
mother Joan Shapiro and her grandfa-
ther Norman Shapiro.

April 6
Marc and Lisa Zumberg of Gainsville,
Fla., are thrilled to announce the birth
of their son, Benjamin Joseph.
Welcoming Benjamin are big brother
Jacob and big sister Rachel. Excited
grandparents are Allan and Eileen
Zumberg of Farmington Hills and Pam
and William Stibitz of Whitehall, Mich.
Also ecstatic are great-grandmothers
Isabelle Harelik of Farmington Hills and
Mildred Smith of Whitehall.

March 18
Marla (Weiss) and Michael Jacobs of
Huntington Woods are thrilled to
announce the birth of their daughter,
Raynah Jane. Welcoming Raynah home
with hugs and kisses are Hannah, 4, and
Noah, 3. Sharing in the happiness are
grandparents Elie Weiss of Royal Oak
and Joan and Mort Jacobs of West
Bloomfield. Raynah is named in loving
memory of her grandmother Rebecca
Weiss.

March 11
Danielle (LeBlanc) and Michael Stark
announce with much love the birth of
their beautiful daughter, Morgan Jane.

Excited grandparents are Sandy and Jay
Stark of Bloomfield Hills, Davey and
Mariann LeBlanc of Dexter, and Sue
and Paul Brege of Canton. Proud great-
grandparents are Barbara Weintraub and
Larry Yanitz of Bloomfield Hills,
Christine Slomzenski of Allen Park,
Frank Slomzenski and Genevieve Haigh
of Livonia and Leonard and Chris
Zoltowski of Canton. Morgan Jane is
named in loving memory of her great-
grandmothers Mary LeBlanc and
Jane Yanitz and her great-great-grand-
mother Jennie Yanitz.

Jan. 16
Robyn and Josh Stern welcome with
much love and joy the arrival of their
daughter, Eryn Riley (Hinda Libe).
Welcoming Eryn home is big brother
Evan, 3. Sharing in their joy are grand-
parents Ronald and Arlene Stern of
Bloomfield Hills, Carolyn Godur of
Miami, Fla., and Jaime Godur of Boca
Raton, Fla. Thrilled great-grandparents
are Sam Glassman and Elias Godur.
Eryn Riley is named in loving memory
of her great-grandmothers Peggy
Glassman and Libby Fidlon.