Ossining Students Get a Taste of Innovation with First-of-Its-Kind Culinary Partnership

Incredibowls General Tso’s Chicken … Santa Fe Quesadilla … Sambrosos Cajun Fish Taco … Tuscany Griller … These are some of the healthy, made from scratch meals that Ossining students are enjoying this year.

The enhanced menu is the result of an innovative new collaboration—the first of its kind in the nation! —between Whitsons Culinary Group and Brigaid, a nationally recognized network of chefs working in institutional kitchens, that furthers the quality, nutrition and appeal of meals served to students across Ossining Union Free School District (Ossining UFSD).

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment among Ossining UFSD, Whitsons and Brigaid to support student health, academic success and overall well-being.

Through this new partnership, Brigaid’s Chef Vinny Franco is working alongside Whitsons and district leadership to strengthen scratch cooking practices, introduce diverse recipes, support culinary training and create engaging opportunities that encourage healthy eating habits among students.

Mr. Franco brings experiences across a wide range of cuisines and culinary traditions, including international training in Italy, Japan, and Spain, to menu development and a student-centered approach to diverse offerings. Most recently, he served as a Program Chef with Brigaid in Palmdale, California, supporting a school district serving more than 15,000 students across 28 sites.

"This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to build upon the strong foundation already established by Whitsons in our schools," said Alita McCoy, Ossining UFSD Assistant Superintendent for Business. "By bringing Brigaid's culinary expertise together with Whitsons' operational excellence, we can continue to elevate our meal program and provide students with food that is fresh, nutritious and enjoyable."

"We are thrilled to work with Ossining UFSD and Whitsons Culinary Group to support the district's vision for student wellness and nutrition," said Shayne Somers, Engagement Manager at Brigaid. "Together, we're creating opportunities to serve meals that students are excited to eat while building long-term culinary capacity within the district."

"We are proud to collaborate with Brigaid and Ossining UFSD as we continue our commitment to providing exceptional food service experiences for students," said Ina VanDer Sande, Whitsons’ Food Service Director. "Combining our operational expertise with Brigaid's chef-driven approach creates a powerful partnership focused on delivering fresh, nutritious and delicious meals every day. "