NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- In an effort to get students interested in the culinary arts, the North Olmsted City School District is once again taking part in the Future Chefs National Challenge.
“Prior to COVID, we participated for the first time in the Future Chefs National Challenge during the 2018-2019 school year,” Food Services Director Patty Kinch said. “It was fantastic, and the students were excited.
“We had close to 50 recipe submissions for an entree and we chose six winners. This year’s theme, we’re looking at ‘complete the plate’ with their favorite fruit or vegetable side dish.”
The current competition invites fourth- and fifth-grade students from Pine Intermediate School to submit recipes now through Feb. 12.
Six finalists will compete March 8 at the North Olmsted High School kitchen. The students will create their recipes, which will be judged by a panel of district administrators and staff.
“All of the finalists will receive a culinary prize package and a medal,” Kinch said. “The winner gets the grand prize -- cookware, recipe books. They also go on to the regional judging in mid-April.”
The Future Chefs National Challenge is presented by Sodexo, which provides facilities management and food services to schools, universities, hospitals and senior living facilities.
For over a decade, the contest has encouraged more than 15,000 elementary-age students throughout North America to learn more about nutrition, make healthy food choices, build basic math skills and develop cooking techniques.
“A lot of the kids are engaged in those cooking shows, so this just gives them the opportunity if they have that passion to be able to showcase it,” Kinch said.
“Also, some of the kids are saying they do want to go into perhaps a food career. They have the option at high school to go to the career center and pursue culinary (arts).”
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