Student chef competition coming up

The Farm to Cafeteria Program has made some fun changes in this year’s third annual Student Chef competition on March 31. The biggest change is that the afternoon competition for Middle School and High School students will consist of teams: one student and one OISD teacher, administrator or employee (excluding cafeteria kitchen staff.)

By Madie Murray • February 1, 2012 7:35 pm
Last year’s grand prize winner Keenan O’Brien preparing his winning recipe
Last year’s grand prize winner Keenan O’Brien preparing his winning recipe

The Farm to Cafeteria Program has made some fun changes in this year’s third annual Student Chef competition on March 31.

The biggest change is that the afternoon competition for Middle School and High School students will consist of teams: one student and one OISD teacher, administrator or employee (excluding cafeteria kitchen staff.)

The overall winner of this grade group will receive a an amazon.com gift card and dinner for four at an island restaurant.

Another change is that the recipes should be for entrees only and with a Caribbean flare.  To explore the possibilities, Google® “Caribbean recipes” and we think you’ll be surprised to see how many variations there are and how fun this type of cuisine can be. The possibilities are more endless than you might think.

The K-6 competition will be in the morning, as in the past, however, competitors won’t have to wait until the afternoon competition is over before they learn who won in their grade group.  The K-6 competition and awards will all be done in the morning, and the overall winner in this group will receive an amazon.com gift card and another “special prize.”

Entries should be given to Chef Zach at the school on or before March 5.  From those we receive by March 5, the Student Chef Committee will select six entries in the K-6 group and six entries in the 7-12 to compete on March 31.

Chef Zach will be again be overseeing the competitors as they prepare their recipes and elementary/middle school principal Kyle Freeman will again be our eminent MC.  A judging panel made up of community and school representatives will be charged with deciding the winners.  Competition guidelines and slide shows of the 2011 and 2010 competition can be found on the Farm to Cafeteria web site: www.orcasislandf2c.org.

Any individual or business may be a sponsor for the Student Chef competition at a Copper Kettle ($50), Silver Spoon ($100), Golden Spatula ($250), or Platinum Platter ($500) level.  Sponsorships enable us to give prizes, provide equipment and items needed for the competition.

Sponsorship checks should be made payable to the Orcas Island Education Foundation and sent to the Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 252, Eastsound, WA 98245.