 The Caliente Cowboys and Cowgirl,
a student culinary team from Clyde A. Erwin High School in Buncombe County,
cooked their way to first place in the first-ever North Carolina Jr. Chef
Competition, held Monday at Guilford Technical Community College.
With their Hot Asheville Chicken with Farmers Market Salad, team
members Jacob Boyd, Lane Worley and Haley Marlowe won top honors, a trophy and a
ticket to Kentucky to represent North Carolina in the Southeast Jr. Chef
Competition.
Ashe County High School took second place with a recipe for Chicken
Cheese Enchiladas. Topsail High School in Pender County took third place with a
Tropical Chicken Wrap.
For the North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition, Sullivan University in
Kentucky – where the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition will be held next month – is
offering the following scholarships to attend their university to each student
team member: 1st place - $16,000, 2nd place - $10,000, 3rd place - $6,000. North
Carolina’s first place team from Buncombe County will compete against teams
from other states in the Southeast May 9-10 for the following scholarships to
attend Sullivan University: 1st place - full tuition and fees (value of $45,000
- $55,000 each), 2nd place - tuition (value of $47,000 each), 3rd place -
$20,000 scholarship.
Every student showcased their skills in a tight race with all teams
taking a gold or silver medal in the North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition. The
first, second and third place teams received gold medals along with Parkwood
High School in Union County. East Gaston High School and Hunter Hess High
School in Gaston County, East Mecklenburg High School in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
school district and West Carteret High School in Carteret County all received
silver medals. Results of the competition were announced Monday evening in
Greensboro during the opening session of the state conference of the North Carolina Family, Career and Community
Leaders of America, a chapter of the national FCCLA.
As part of the competition, students were challenged to work with their
Family and Consumer Sciences teachers and School Nutrition directors to develop
a creative recipe for a school lunch entrée that meets the National School
Lunch Program nutrition standards, includes at least two North Carolina-grown
products and one USDA Foods item, is replicable by School Nutrition Programs,
and meets student taste-test preferences. As Career and Technical Education
food, nutrition and culinary arts students, participation in the first-ever
North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition offered an unprecedented opportunity to
translate skills learned in the classroom to real-world kitchens developing
recipes to be featured on future school menus across the state. In this way,
the Junior Chef Competition fulfills the goals of inspiring the next generation
of culinary professionals, stimulating interest in locally produced
agriculture, increasing participation in School Nutrition Programs, providing
nutrition education, and encouraging healthy eating habits.
During the cook-off, teams were challenged to prepare, cook and plate
their recipes and present their dish along with the results of student taste
tests and surveys to judges. Teams were evaluated and recognized for their
ability to work as members of a team to demonstrate valuable skills in recipe
development, food preparation, marketing, public presentation, organization,
and local food systems.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) launched the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition and challenged each of
the eight states in the Southeast to identify a team of students to represent their
state at the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition. The School Nutrition Services
Section and Career and Technical
Education Division at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction partnered
with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Farm to School Program, NC FCCLA (Family, Career and Community
Leaders of America) and the Farm
to School Coalition of NC to plan the first North Carolina Jr. Chef
Competition. In addition, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the
North Carolina Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and the School Nutrition
Association of North Carolina have provided generous support. Les Dames d’Escoffier NC is hosting a
fundraiser Thursday to help the first-place North Carolina team travel to the
competition in Kentucky.
More details about the
North Carolina Jr. Competition are available online
and on DPI’s Facebook page. Stay tuned for recipes, photos and videos from this year’s cook-off. Additional
information regarding School Nutrition Programs in North Carolina can be found
on the School Nutrition Services website. USDA and NCDPI
are equal opportunity providers and employers.
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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies,
offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA
programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national
origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights
activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape,
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the agency (state or local) where
they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have
speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)
877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages
other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) available online and at any
USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all
of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
* mail: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
* fax: (202) 690-7442; or
* email.
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About the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides leadership
to 115 local public school districts and 160 charter schools serving over 1.5
million students in kindergarten through high school graduation. The agency is
responsible for all aspects of the state's public school system and works under
the direction of the North Carolina State Board of Education.
For more information:
NCDPI Communication and Information Division, 919-807-3450.
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