According to Toms River Schools, Food Services Director Jeff Hanaway's idea for the first-ever Junior Chef competition last year was a great success. West Dover's Brianna Lawrence's, Creamy Chicken Salad Pinwheel Recipe was the Winner!
Version 2.0 this year pitted chefs from elementary schools against one another in a friendly competition to see who could prepare the finest salad for the district.
The site this time around was High School East, which is appropriate considering the school houses the district's Food Services Department. The contestants, their salads, and their school's cafeteria sous chefs were:
Cedar Grove: Emma Burdge, Buffalo Salad (Jennifer Delman)
West Dover:Kendall Royer, Taste Bud Rollercoaster (Lynn Denisco)
North Dover: Isabella Rios Pita Bottger, Savory Bacon and Noodle Salad (Maria Cunha)
Just like last year, when West Dover took home the "healthy sandwich" crown, an esteemed group of food lovers comprised the judging panel. They were:
Superintendent Mike Citta
Board member Melissa Morrison
JBJ Soul Kitchen Executive Chef Rob Wood
Curriculum Director Rachel Cicala
2023 Elementary School Salad Cook Off!
A brand-new element of the competition was the livestreaming of the event by High School East TRSTV students. In fact, parents and families in the auditorium were able to watch the action on a large screen as the students made their salads in the kitchen and were being interviewed by judges and TRSTV correspondents.
The judges were ultimately won over by Jada Gould of Washington Street, whose Summer Salad Special was chosen as the winner. Well done, Jada!
And congrats to each and every one of the winning schools and Junior Chef competitors for organizing yet another delectable occasion that is quickly becoming a district tradition.