CINY Alumni to Represent Team USA in Culinary World Cup and Culinary Olympics

Congratulations to Chef Jake Costantino and Chef Yudel Torres! They're heading to the Olympics -- the culinary Olympics, that is. 

Both earned a well-deserved spot after competing at the American Culinary Federation’s Culinary Olympic Team USA 2028 Trials at J&W University in September. 

They faces 15 other chefs for positions on the US team, which will first head to the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg in 2026 and then to Stuttgart, Germany for the Culinary Olympics in 2028. Both chefs maintain a connection with CINY, as Chef Jake serves as an assistant coach for CINY’s award-winning competition team and Chef Yudel is a current instructor in the program. Current CINY students, Bradley Torres and Evan Rodriguez, supported them during the Culinary Olympic Team USA 2028 Trials as chef’s apprentices.  

“I could not be prouder of these two outstanding young culinarians and continue to bask in the joy of their accomplishments as their coach on this incredible journey they are on,” said Dr. Frank Costantino, Dean of the School of Hospitality Management at Monroe University and CINY. “What’s more – they are not only outstanding culinarians, but they inspire our students to excel and maximize their own potential through the example of pride, passion and professionalism they show every time they enter our kitchens.”  

Over the next two years, the team will prepare through coordinated practice and preparation. When competing at this level, said Chef Yudel, the smallest mistakes can have significant consequences.   

"Competing in this way – it's a different type of discipline because there's no room for failure,” Chef Yudel said. “You have an hour to put out the food, and to do it perfectly, exactly how you practice it time after time. You get one chance to present it, and then that's it.”   

Chef Jake, also Dr. Costantino’s son, said he has no plans to slow down. As of November 1, 2024, Chef Jake is officially an ACF judge, following the completion of his apprenticeship with the professional chef’s organization.  

“I want to continue competing. I want to always be the best version of myself,” he said.  

The ten-member Team USA is:  

- ACF Chef Jake Costantino, CCC  
- ACF Chef Yudel Torres, CEC, CEPC  
- ACF Chef Shannon Catalde   
- ACF Chef Chase Grove   
- ACF Chef Anthony Jung, CEC  
- ACF Chef Michael Lamping, CEC  
- ACF Chef Jared Masters   
- ACF Chef Chad Schoonveld, CEC, professor  
- ACF Chef Maxwell Smith   

Current and former student CINY chefs have the opportunity to compete in various culinary arenas, putting their skills and creativity to the test in one-on-one and team competitions against other programs from around the region and country. Team CINY students have won more than 1,000 competition medals and honors in these competitions.  

Congratulations to our CINY chefs and good luck to Team USA!