Sodexo's Future Chef Competition Winner Finally Announced

Pictured: Students that competed in Sodexo's Future Chef Competiton All photos by Nancy Sasso Janis

Naugatuck, CT - School administrators, teachers, cafeteria workers, parents and siblings came out on March 20, 2018 to support the five students from four Naugatuck elementary schools who competed in the district finals of the Sodexo's Future Chef Competition. This year's cook-off, which had been postponed from the previous Tuesday due to a snow day, marks the seventh year that the competition has been held in Naugatuck. This year the students prepared their healthy Asian-inspired entree recipes that were judged by a distinguished panel of judges.

The five fourth graders began preparing their recipes promptly at 4:00pm in the cafeteria kitchen at Naugatuck High School. As in past competitions, five members of the food services staff paired up with the young chefs to assist with the preparation of the entree. Parents were soon allowed into the kitchen as the food was prepared and snapped many pictures as the young chefs whipped up their masterpieces.

The nearby NHS cafeteria serving line area was set up with the judges table and a small table for each chef to display their masterpieces. Healthy refreshments were available to those who attended while they waited to sample the five recipes. Each of the five competitors plated up a presentation dish, four judges plates, and numerous tasting cups for the spectators to sample.

The competition was sponsored by Sodexo, the company that administers the school cafeterias in the district, and it is a national competition. The recipe of the winner of the borough cook-off will go on to compete at the regional level, where three winners are chosen. The final five chefs at the national level will have a video of themselves preparing their recipe posted on YouTube and viewers will vote for their favorite recipe. This year there were 30 recipes submitted by the district's elementary schools and the students who came up with the top five were part of the local competition. The winner of this year's Naugatuck Public School's competition will move on to the Sodexo Regional Valley Cook-off to be held at Griffin Hospital on May 15; up and coming chefs from Seymour, Derby, Shelton, and Ansonia will be participating as well.

When all five students had finished their preparation, they presented their entree to the five judges a la the reality show Top Chef.

Airika Echevarria, a fourth grade student of Ms. Wilson at Salem School, made Airika's Lo Mein. This creation featured fresh chopped ginger, sliced chicken breast, pork, and red bell pepper with hoisin sauce and light soy sauce. Her principal Jennifer Kruge, who will retire at the end of this school year, was there to cheer her on. This will be the final competition that Mrs. Kruge will attend as the principal of the district's oldest elementary school.

Deyala Mashni, who is in Mr. Luchene's fourth grade at Western School, invented a recipe called Thai Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Sauce. The marinated shrimp was wrapped in flour tortillas with coleslaw mix and served with the green avocado sauce that contained lime juice and yogurt.

Alona Reboira from Mrs. Croft's fourth grade at Maple Hill School, made Alona's Fast Teriyaki. Her creation included chicken, brown rice, broccoli and fresh ginger.

Mallory Swindon represented Hop Brook School with Asian Spaghetti and Meatballs. Miss Swindon is in Mr. Deitelbaum's fourth grade and her principal Kathy Taylor was in attendance to support her. Her recipe included ground turkey meatballs, diced carrots and lo mein noodles mixed with teriyaki sauce.

Rocco Grella, a fourth grade student in Mrs. Pelkey's class at Maple Hill School, came up with Romaine Reins Chicken Wraps. The lettuce-wrapped entree was stuffed with sliced chicken, mushrooms, brown rice and multi-colored coleslaw mix. Mr. Grella's wraps were garnished with cilantro, scallions, toasted sesame seeds and a fortune cookie.

The healthy entrees were judged by a panel of four adults, including Assistant Business Manager Bernice Rizk, Naugatuck Mayor Warren N. "Pete" Hess, Naugatuck Board of Education Chair Dorothy Neth-Kunin and Sharon Locke, Superintendent of Schools. The recipes were judged on originality, healthy attributes, easy preparation, kid friendliness and plate presentation. As the judges' scores were tallied, supporters were invited to sample everyone's recipe and all of the recipes that I was able to taste were delicious.

When the ballots were tallied, the four runner ups were announced in no particular order and awarded a medal. The winner was announced by Kate Murphy, Director of Food Services for the borough. Maple Hill student Rocco Grella's recipe was named the winning entree. Chef Rocco was awarded a box of cooking supplies and a camera in addition to his medal.

Congratulations to all of the participants. Every entree was delicious and I was glad that I was not asked to judge which one I liked best. Best of luck to the winning chef as he moves on to the regional competition.