Miniature Wolfgang Pucks brandished blenders and knives while they skittered around the kitchen conjuring gastronomic concoctions. The third- through fifth-graders, capped in tall white chef hats, were all competing for top honors at the Sodexo Elementary Culinary Competition at the Academy School District 20 administration building. Ten finalists participated at the event on Feb. 24 and in order to compete, their recipes had to stand above 90 students who submitted recipes from across the district.
Kids along with Sodexo team leaders were unwrapping watermelons, heartily mixing and placing their items carefully on plates for judging.
Dishes ranged from egg rolls to “Waffle Pizza” — a waffle topped with yogurt, granola and then another waffle — which allows the diner to use only hands when eating it.
There may be some competition but the event was really about learning and healthy eating, according to event organizer and executive Sodexo chef Mari Younkin.
“We are teaching them that as they get older they will have to be working with time limits and they have to start now,” Younkin said.
The participants had about an hour to finish up their creations before the top three recipes were decided.
The kids also learned a lesson in kitchen safety through a lecture on food preparation preceding the cook off.
Coming up with recipes allows the kids’ creativity to be honed while teaching them lessons in the culinary arts.
“The kids get to use their imagination,” said Sodexo team leader Trudy Lopez.
Lonna Smith, whose daughter was competing, watched the kids preparing their food and said that the event helps encourage cooking aptitudes.
“She’s always creating, playing with cool ideas,” Smith said, her third-grade daughter Carli came up with the “Waffle Pizza.”
All students received awards and the top three contestants received prizes that promoted healthy eating and activity. All of the district-wide 98 recipes will go into a cookbook.
Fourth-grader Abbie Carlson won the top award with “Abbies Healthy Chicken Bites,” second was fifth-grader Emily Orwig with “Em’s Berry Scrumptious Parfait,” and fifth-grader Kelsey Peak took third with her “Pita Pizzas.”
Earlier in the year Sodexo hosted a similar event at the district with middle school students and they may eventually host a high school competition, Younkin said.
Recipe for Abbie’s Healthy Chicken Bites
Ingredients:
8 oz light cream cheese
12 oz canned chicken
2 stalks green onion, chopped
1 roll biscuits
Bread crumbs
Mix softened cream cheese, chicken and green onions. Cut biscuit in half. Flatten dough with rolling pin. Put a tablespoon of mixture in center of dough. Pinch closed and roll in bread crumbs. Put on cookie sheet, sprayed with Pam, seam side down. Bake according to biscuit directions.