Mikayla Pabroada graduated from Monroe’s Culinary Institute of New York in June 2024 with an Associate in Culinary Arts and she is working towards completing her Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management this year. She also became the Northeast Region Student Chef of the Year! Mikayla developed a love for cooking at the age of seven from her grandma and dad in the Philippines, enjoying every moment in the kitchen with them.
When her family moved to the United States 10 years ago, Mikayla took over her house's cooking chores. She started with cakes, scrambled eggs with cheese, and pancakes, but mostly enjoyed experimenting with Filipino-style stir fry and other dishes.
Her fascination with food led her to attend a high school in Manhattan focused on the culinary arts. After the pandemic hit, Mikayla decided to stay close to home, and chose Monroe. As a first-generation Filipino going to college, she wanted to make the most of it.
At Monroe, Mikayla's culinary journey took a transformative turn. The supportive environment allowed her to hone her skills and gain confidence. She entered the ACF competition initially for fun, not knowing much about it or how far she could go. She never thought she’d be a chef and felt thankful to the ACF for the competition and networking opportunities, and especially to Chef Frank Costantino for supporting her success in competitions.
Mikayla’s winning entry was Contemporary Pork with Filipino Inspiration: Tocino of pork rib-eye with quail egg, toyomansi gel, and pickled green papaya, handmade pan-fried miki noodles with stir fry and pork, bok choy in garlic sauce. She will compete in the national competition at the 2024 ACF National Convention.
