Arlington Public Schools: Kenmore Students Win 2022 Real Food For Kids Culinary Challenge

Press release from Arlington Public Schools:

2022-03-11

A version of the recipe created by Kenmore students may soon be featured on the Silver Diner menu, and will be adapted for school lunch menus throughout the DMV area.  The winning group of Kenmore students developed these recipes over the course of this school year, meeting after school to prepare and test versions of the recipe along the way.  With support from Mary Porter (RFFK Program Director) and feedback from Chef Ype Von Hengst (Cofounder and Executive Chef of Silver Diner) they created a winning combination of Quinoa Crust Quiche and Apple, Arugula Walnut salad.

Real Food for Kids is an advocacy organization that has sponsored a Culinary Challenge for middle and high school FACS students since 2012.  The goal is “to engage and support students in Family and Consumer Sciences and Culinary Arts electives, foster their ambition to create innovative, nutritious dishes that influence school meal programs, and provide a project-based learning platform for teachers.”

The challenge is one faced by cafeteria workers daily, to create healthy and delicious school lunch items that adhere to USDA nutritional guidelines and cost less than $2.70/student.  This competition is the only cooking competition open to both middle and high school students in the DMV area.  Other schools that participated in the competition included Blue Ridge Middle School, Franklin Middle School, Chantilly Academy, Herndon High School and Takoma Park Middle School.

Kenmore’s team is thrilled to be recognized among such talented young chefs. We knew the competition would be tough, but we were not fully aware of how challenging the process would be. Our team worked for months on research and development of our recipes, preparing and testing many iterations along the way. The final product is something we all love and are extremely proud of.  Who knew you could make quinoa and tofu taste so good?

Hearing Chef Ype Von Hengst talk about our dish during the panel discussion and how he plans to add a version of our recipe to his menu at Silver Diner was incredible. We were elated and shocked by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received during the public tasting. Parents were asking for the recipe because their children wanted Quinoa Crust Quiche for dinner!  The moment first place was announced is one that neither the students nor myself will ever forget.  As the envelope was opened, we stood in total silence with our arms linked together. When Chef Kevin Tien said, “first place goes to…Kenmore Middle School,” our first reaction was disbelief, quickly followed by tears of joy (Ms. Bilanchone) and a big group hug. We can’t wait to find out what next year’s theme will be!

This press release was produced by Arlington Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.