Future chefs serve up inventive recipes

Homemade pizza pockets, breakfast waffle sandwiches and banana dogs were just a few of the delectable items served during the Sultan School District's third-annual Future Chef contest.

A collaboration between the school district and Sodexo Food Services, the competition took place on April 3, in the Sultan High School commons. To determine contest participants, the district queried third, fourth and fifth-grade students from both Sultan and Gold Bar elementary schools, asking for recipe submissions.-á

Out of 31 total entries, 13 students were selected to compete as a Future Chef finalist. Each finalist was awarded with a medal, a Future Chef certificate, a goody bag, customized chef's coat, a chef's hat and the opportunity to compete for one of five grand prizes.-á

Grand-prize winners received Panini grills, courtesy of Sodexo.-á

Meant to encourage creativity and promote healthy eating, the event was facilitated by Sodexo Food Service Director Nita Lea and supported by other Sodexo staff, past Future Chef winners and the Sultan High School Technology Club. Five volunteers from the district were appointed to judge the competition.-á

The finalists were set up at separate stations around the commons and armed with an example of their dish and plenty of samples for tasting. As the judges tried each dish, they were able to quiz the Future Chef finalists about their recipes. -á

Each finalist was considered for one of five grand-prize categories, including Best Health-Conscious Sandwich, Kid-Friendliest Sandwich, Most Fun Sandwich, Best Verbal Presentation and Judge's Choice.-á

Fourth-grade Gold Bar Elementary School student Jean Chavez prepared breakfast waffle sandwiches, a recipe that he found in an online search. The savory breakfast-style snack included eggs, cheese and turkey bacon GÇô all sandwiched between two waffles. Initially, Chavez explained, he had wanted to create a Nutella-and-peanut butter sandwich, but his friend had chosen the same recipe.Knowing they couldn't submit duplicate recipes, the two decided to have a little contest to see who would get to use it.

"We had to do Rock, Paper, Scissors, and I ended up losing,GÇ¥ Chavez said.-á

But losing the contest turned out to be serendipitous, because Chavez was chosen to participate as a finalist for his waffle-sandwich selection.

"I'm happy I lost that Rock, Paper, Scissors,GÇ¥ he said.

Several students relied on family recipes, including Annika Evenson, a fifth-grade student from Gold Bar Elementary School, who used a recipe she learned from her aunt.-á

"I have a Caprese salad sandwich with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and a basil leaf,GÇ¥ Evenson said. "I typically don't use balsamic [vinegar], but I did today.GÇ¥

Jacey Rogers, a fourth-grade student from Gold Bar Elementary School, got some help from his mom when it came to selecting his recipe. Rogers prepared a grilled Rueben sandwich on rye bread, complete with pastrami, sauerkraut and two kinds of cheese.-á -á

"My mom came up with the idea because I was thinking something zesty and tasty, and my mom said, "Oh, I know ' Rueben,'GÇ¥ Rogers said. "It's a family recipe.GÇ¥

After careful deliberation, the judges announced the five grand-prize winners: Annika Evenson, Best Health-Conscious Sandwich GÇô Caprese salad sandwich; Gage Sherman, Kid-Friendliest Sandwich GÇô the Banana Dog; Tehya Werner, Most Fun Sandwich GÇô "I Know Something That Weighs You DownGÇ¥ sandwich;-á Connor Macfarlane, Best Verbal Presentation GÇô strawberry cream cheese waffle sandwich; and Elliana Day, Judge's Choice GÇô homemade pizza pockets. -á

Judge Daniel Baller explained that the Judge's Choice category was very open-ended, without the regulatory criteria that the other categories had.-á

"But it had to be unanimous. We had to all agree that this was truly our overall favorite,GÇ¥ Baller said. "And the judges, after much deliberation, came to a decision that the winner is Elliana Day, with the homemade pizza pockets.GÇ¥