NASSAU, Bahamas — Family Island students took center stage at the 2023 Bahamas Young Chef Culinary Competition, grabbing first, second and third place in the junior division and first, third and fourth place in the senior division, The Nassau Guardian reported on Monday, September 27, 2023.
The contestants, who represented public and independent schools from New Providence and 12 Family Islands, received their prizes during an awards ceremony last Friday at Government High School.
Eleven-year-old Lael Green, an aspiring chef and a 7th grader at Inagua All Age School, was declared the 31st Junior High School National Young Chef.
Moneliesha Johnson, an 11th grade student of Central Andros High School, who is passionate about cooking, is the 31st Senior High School National Young Chef.
The finalists (1st-4th place) in the national rounds in both divisions received awards.
First place winners accepted floating trophies on behalf of their schools. The winners also received cash scholarship awards from Asa H. Pritchard, medals, plaques, checks, ribbons, scholarships and a certificate to attend Johnson and Wales University Summer Career Explorations program.
Before reaching the national/final round (phase 3), the 14 junior high school students and 17 senior high school students participated in school-based competitions (phase 1) and island/district competitions (phase 2). They were each given two hours to prepare “original” rice and flour dishes (sweet and or/savory) using Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour and based on the 2023 theme “Celebrating our Jubilee: Bahamian Cuisine…our Flavor Profile, our Food Culture, our Identity”.
The students’ dishes were judged on nutritional value, preparation methods, aesthetic appeal, flavor and taste.
The Centre for the Deaf and Programme S.U.R.E. were newcomers to this year’s competition.
Also, for the first time a Beef and Pork Signature Dish Challenge sponsored by Asa H. Pritchard and U. S. Meat Export Federation, led by Liz Wunderlich and a team of chefs, was held for students during the 7th annual Bahamas Young Chef Culinary Conference.
Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin commended the Family and Consumer Science Unit, the corporate stakeholders and partners, and congratulated all of the contestants in the culinary competition and the culinary conference.
“As you move through life no matter what it is – culinary arts, performing arts, science, sewing, how [you] represent yourself: I want you to ensure that you put yourself forward in the best possible light so the world can see who you are,” Hanna-Martin said.
See complete article in The Nassau Guardian at https://www.thenassauguardian.com/lifestyles/family-island-students-shine-in-bahamas-young-chef-culinary-competition/article_b211ca5c-8d10-11ee-91ac-73938d2b31da.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR089mYevCd_mjOE0i0dpnYUVYjCYM5NNXQR2RN9GQF0AnhiSMX2z7fXBGM
