World-Class Chefs To Compete, Raise Money For New London Schools

NEW LONDON, CT — Dan Giusti, the former Executive Chef at Noma in Copenhagen (perennially called the best restaurant in the world), is essentially calling together the Avengers of chefs to compete next month in hopes of raising money for New London schools.

Giusti left Noma to launch Brigaid, a for-profit organization that aims to revolutionize school lunches. He has now invited ten world-class chefs to compete in the organization's first ever $1.25 Throwdown, where chefs will be devising school lunches that fit within both the national school nutrition standards and the $1.25 budget.

They will then go head-to-head, serving their school lunches to the public on Saturday, June 2. The winner’s meal will be on the school’s menu next year.

According to the event's Indiegogo page, the throwdown will take place from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School during five "lunch waves" in the school cafeteria. Their meals will then be judged by both students and a panel of respected food writers.

An after-party will take place at the Crocker House Ballroom at 8 p.m., featuring music, hors d’oeuvres and an open bar with top shelf liquors.

According to the event's Indiegogo page, Brigaid recruits professionally trained chefs to lead school kitchens full-time with the goal of cooking delicious food from scratch. These meals aim to both meet the strict budgetary and nutritional guidelines set by the National School Lunch Program and the organization's own quality standards.

Brigaid has operated in New London's six public schools since 2016.

For more information and a full list of competing chefs, check Indiegogo.

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