Students at Hills Compete for Culinary Supremacy

Team Mardi Gras received the Best Entree and Peoples' Choice awards at the third annual Student Culinary Competition at Wayne Hills High School Wednesday. 

"These kids are so creative. To find out what ideas they come up with and then to watch them make everything themselves is amazing," said principal Scot Beckerman. "They all deserve to win and be applauded for what they have done here tonight."

Hundreds of attendees walked around the gymnasium and sampled everything from plantains and empanadas to fried pickles and fried ores. 

Champion Chefs

The Mardis Gras team won the Best Marketing Poster and People's Choice awards. The team included members: Tiffany Dharia, Tyler Jonoski, Tara Giuffre, Owen Bizik, Caitlin Brock, Harika Tuzun, and Krste Evtimovski.

Team Israel received the Best Appetizer award. Tova Livini, Shayna Bleekerman, Andrew Rudow, and Julia Robbins were the team members. 

The Caribbean team won the Best Marketing award. Aya Odatalla, Jessica, Reiner, Crystal McLean, Yeibin An, Naja As an, Nahee Kim, Natalia Koczyk, and Prianka Patnakota were on the team.

The Disney International team, which served food from the different parts of the world where Disney movies are set, won the Best Dessert award. Vagdevi Kondeti, Besa Adili, Nadia Sabeh, Jennifer Norlega, Preeti Prabhu, Jackie Morataya, Celina Joco, and Tina Kara made up the team.

The Sports team of Ally Nurik, Meghan Byrne, Julie Zucker, Alyssa Appel, and Karoline O'Keefe won the Team Spirit award.

The Taste of Latin team of Jess Lindsay, Gina Martinez, Nataliz Casillas, Corey McKinney, Jake Bennet, Vanessa Vigilone, Kathryn Acciavatti, and Cheyenne Rodgers won the Best Overall Menu award.

The New Jersey Boardwalk team of Angelina Campbell, Kayla Rivera, Rachael Malazarte, Carli Mink, and Alexis Santana won the Best Theme award.