In just three two-hour sessions, LA Caterer and Restaurateur, and RootDown board member, Jennie Cook, gives high school kids (and their parents) the skills to devise their own recipes for a healthy gourmet VEGGIE meal. Thursday, May 13th was the final-cook off for this latest round of culinary genius building. After two sessions where students (and parents) got to practice new cooking techniques on various vegetables, they arrived for the third session to find a "mystery" vegetable around which they had to create a dish to impress a team of judges. Jennie was impressed with the seriousness with which the participants approached the challenge. As soon as they arrived in the final cook-off day, they quickly got to work to prepare dishes that ended up looking like they'd just come out of a professional kitchen. The principal, several Jefferson High teachers, and our good friend from WECAN, Michel McLaughlin were on hand to taste the food.
A white bean pasta and spicy coleslaw dish took first place though all the teams were awarded prizes for the taste, presentation and overall creativity of their plates. Let us know if you want us to bring the Mystery Lunch Box Cook off to your school or organization!
