Kids can cook: SP kids demonstrate their culinary prowess

An enthusiastic audience of parents, siblings and friends enjoyed the menu offerings during the Inaugural “Kids Can Cook” event, held May 10 at Pioneer Middle School’s Auditorium. The event featured ten Saltar’s Point Elementary School 4th & 5th graders in the Sodexo-sponsored “Kids Can Cook” competition featuring healthy after school snacks.

Top voted snacks included Madison Lewis’ “healthiest snack” Erupting Lava Apple with the eruption caused by peanut butter mixed with trail mix!; Joseph Daniel’s “kid friendly preparation” of “Cocoa-nut” Bananas; Jessica Jones’ “fun foods” featuring a Sailboat Snack; David Ling’s “best plate presentation” of Bunny Spread Wraps; and Jiemyjoyce Reduque’s “judges’ award” for her Chicken Salad Wraps.

While judges rated the student offerings, guests tasted samples at the display tables, with choices ranging from Veggie Omelets and Snack Kabobs to Salmon Celery Sticks and more.

Future chefs, wearing white chefs’ coats and white chef hats (one bore chocolate fingerprints), learned about food preparation (slicing and dicing), presentation, and talking with curious guests who wanted details about their recipes.

Sodexo, the district’s food service provider, sponsors the event to encourage healthy eating and to showcase students’ creativity. Dave Williams, Sodexo’s executive chef, oversaw food preparation in the school’s kitchen before the competition began.

Sodexo manager and Steilacoom Historical School District’s director of food service Kathryn Jacobs coordinated the program. Paring down the entries from over 40 entries to 10 was a challenge.

Participants each received a medallion and a certificate, while Lewis, Daniel and Jones, Ling and Reduque each received a stainless steel mixing bowl, filled with culinary items.

Bon Appetit!