N.C. announces winners of first virtual North Carolina Jr. Chef cook-off

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s school nutrition division has announced the winners of its first virtual North Carolina Jr. Chef cook-off. 

For the competition, students in the state who are enrolled in culinary arts and hospitality, food and nutrition or food science and technology courses worked with their family, teachers and school nutrition directors to come up with an entree recipe suitable for school lunch.

Qualifying recipes had to meet school nutrition program standards and include at least two products grown in North Carolina, along with one USDA Foods item. Recipes also had to be replicable by school nutrition programs and appeal to student taste preferences.

Due to the virtual format, teams submitted a video of themselves preparing and plating their recipe. They also sent an ingredients list, instructions, a recipe photo, nutrient and cost analysis, and their time management plan for preparing the recipe within the 90-minute limit. The student chefs also participated in a live interview to present their recipes to the judges. 

The winning recipe was the Holy Smoke Show Waffle, created by the team from Clyde A. Erwin High in Asheville, N.C. The dish features a homemade cornbread, cheddar and jalapeno waffle topped with chilled, diced and roasted sweet potato, spicy kale chips, local beef sauteed with tomatoes and spices, and a drizzle of honey.

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Dishes from the four finalist teams will be served at school nutrition programs throughout the state. Students in the top three teams also received scholarships from Sullivan University in Louisville, Ky.