Meet Elon’s Culinary Team before they take on UNCG in the 2nd Battle of the Chefs Competition to be held Saturday, February, 28th in Harden Residential Restaurant beginning at 4:45 pm. Battle of the Chefs is based on the Food Network’s hit TV show “Iron Chef”. Come cheer on the Elon Culinary Team Saturday, February 28th! Let the Battle begin!
Mirek Lysakowski, Executive Chef
A native of Poland, Mirek earned his Master Chef Degree from Akademia Gastronomiczna in Wroclaw, Poland, his hometown. His many credentials include being Sous Chef at a variety of locations such as, The Four Star Wroclaw Restaurant, The Nikolaikellar Restaurant in Hamburg, Germany, and The Weinhoff Kapel Restaurant in Graz, Austria. For 20 years North Carolina has been the place he calls home. Mirek has worked for Elon Campus Dining for three years as Executive Chef. Although he has worked at many prestigious restaurants, his favorite place to cook is at home for his wife and two children.
Noppanit “Meena” Monaghan, Chef
Hailing from Bangkok, Thailand, Noppanit “Meena” cooks up a storm. Meena attended Bangkok University in Thailand earning a degree in General Business. She furthered her education at Asian Culinary School. Meena worked as a Chef for Fah Luang in Bangkok for three years. Upon arriving in the United States in 1997, Meena began working at Taste of Thai in Greensboro, NC before joining the Elon Campus Dining team in 1998. She enjoys working at Elon preparing food from her native country.
James Getkin, Catering Chef
James Getkin found his passion for food growing up in Lavonia, Michigan. His seventeen years of experience began at the age of sixteen when he began working at Periwinkles, a French Restaurant in Michigan. After moving to North Carolina, James earned his culinary degree at Alamance Community College while gaining experience at restaurants and country clubs in the area. Throughout his career, he has studied under several Master Chefs gaining an array of valuable culinary skills. James began working for Elon Campus Dining in 2000.
Trinity Taylor, Pastry Chef
Trinity has enjoyed cooking since she was old enough to help in the kitchen with cakes and other baked goods. With a degree in Culinary Technology from Guilford Technical Community College she is an active member of the American Culinary Federation through which she is a certified Culinarian. Her first job after she finished school was at T. Distefano’s Bakery. She specialized in fresh cream pastries, cake pastries and peitfours. She joined the Elon Campus Dining team in 2002 as a Catering Chef. In her spare time, she creates specialty desserts and cakes and sells them on the side. Trinity is pleased and honored to take part in this Season’s Battle of the Chefs Competition.