Jasper Elementary School fifth grader Grayson Bridgewater watched as his assistants prepared plates for the judges at the cooking competition held at the school on Wednesday. Photo by Amy Crane.
“I am being sabotaged,” Cassidee Herbig said melodramatically to no one in particular as she rolled her eyes and tilted her head up to the ceiling in the busy cafeteria kitchen at Jasper Elementary School.
The fifth grader was sauteing her chicken ramen bowl for the Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge. As her assistant had begun to add the canned chicken to her sizzling pan of vegetables and ramen noodles, Cassidee had caught a whiff.
“No, no, no, wait,” she said. “That smells like catfood.”
Her sous chef assuaged her fears by showing her the can label. It was chicken. Then, she poured in what the recipe called for, which elicited the melodramatic statement from Cassidee.
JES fifth grader Cassidee Herbig plated her chicken ramen noodles for judging.
But unlike some of the more cutthroat culinary reality competitions on television, there really wasn’t time for any of the other four student chefs to make any effort to sabotage anything. They were all busy creating the recipes they had submitted to Sodexo for presentation to the three waiting judges — Assistant Superintendent Ryan Erny, JES Principal Audra Jahn, and Assistant Director of Special Education Tammy Hurm.
Each student chef took it seriously, concentrating on the recipe and steps while giving directions to their sous chefs and assistants. At one point, tears nearly fell when a dish charred in the oven. At least until a perfect replacement was brought out. One that had been made in advance for just such instances.
Fifth grader Adeline Harper cracked an egg for her Moco Loco recipe.
This was the third year for the competition at JES, which has steadily grown in popularity as students have become more interested in food and culinary arts.
Timothy Stoner, Sodexo General Manager for Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools, explained that the students they are feeding at school these days have much more complex palates.
“The kids that we serve right now in our schools have grown up on Iron Chef, Cutthroat Kitchen, Alton Brown,” Stoner explained. “They know what good food looks like and tastes like, and that’s what we have to provide them.”
Kelly Argota ‘tadaed’ her family recipe for Flan Cubano during the competition. Photo by Amy Crane.
The dishes being served up to the judges reflected these more complex recipes. In addition to Cassidee’s ramen bowl, other options being considered for the top spot at JES included a Hawaiian recipe called Loco Moco (a hamburger patty topped by an egg, special sauce served on a tower of cauliflower rice) from fifth grader Adeline Harper; Flan Cubano from fifth grader Kelly Argota; a made-from-scratch carrot cake from fifth grader Grayson Bridgewater; Grandpa Stan’s Chicken Soup by fifth grader Charlotte Foster; and third grader Luan Vaal’s Crust and Crumb dessert covered in a sauce featuring the fresh Jasper Band fundraiser strawberries. Fifth grader Perrin Spond’s ground beef taco recipe was also chosen, though Perrin was unable to attend Wednesday’s cooking event.
After the mad dash to prepare each recipe, the chefs took turns presenting their final dish to the judges. Each dish was scored on several criteria, including originality, taste, kid-friendliness, and the use of healthy ingredients. In the end, Luana Vaal’s Strawberry-covered Cake and Crumble took the top spot, which came as no surprise to her fellow contestants, who each took turns sporking mouthfuls while waiting for the results to be announced.
Luana Vaal’s finished cake took top scores in the competition. Photo by Amy Crane.
“She deserved it,” Adeline said while congratulating her for being chosen.
Charlotte’s chicken noodle soup took second place.
Cooking and tasting the other students’ recipes was the best part of the experience for most competitors.
“I got so nervous seeing all my friends walk by saying, ‘You got this. You got this,’” Grayson said. “But then when I went into the kitchen, I was like, I went into Gordon Ramsay mode.”
All participants took home prizes, with the Vaal’s recipe advancing to a regional competition before heading to a national competition that will be voted on by the public.
Luana grinned as she was announced the winner of the competition.
Charlotte Foster prepared to cook her grandfather’s chicken noodle soup recipe as he gave her a few final instructions.
Adeline prepares to present her dishes to the judges with Sodexo District Chef Eben Lips.
Cassidee appreciating her ramen dish in the kitchen. She said ramen is a great goto comfort food for her.
Superintendent Dr. Tracy Lorey congratulates Kelly Argota on her finish.
Adeline begins to fry her burger for the Moco Loco recipe.
Grayson Bridgewater dumps powdered sugar into the mixer for the cream cheese icing on his carrot cake.
The mess.
Adeline plates the Moco Loco.
Kelly came over to lend Charlotte a hand with shredding the chicken for her recipe.
Judges Ryan Erny, Audra Jahn and Tammy Hurm.
The contestants destroyed Luana’s cake after the anxiety ridden cooking and presentation.
Grayson tries out the Moco Loco. He approved.
Dining and Cooking