Schools

Hell's Kitchen Winner Dresses Up Bragg School Salad Competition

Finalists from the Chester elementary school compete in culinary competition for panel of judges that included Hells Kitchen winner David Levy.

Although the Hell’s Kitchen uniform was on David Levy and the spirit of competition was in the air, there were few similarities between the sharp edged reality television cooking show and the Future Chefs: Healthy Salad Competition sponsored by Sodexho and held at the Bragg School in Chester on March 15.

Levy, who is also the Executive Chef at the Publick House in Chester, was on the judging panel with Anne Pape, Black River School nurse, Cindy Finnegan from Unilever, and Gary Lakritz from the Chester Board of Education.

According to Chester Consolidated School Superintendent Christina VanWoert, the annual program, which is in its third year, is part of Sodexo’s commitment to bolstering communities by promoting well-being in support of achievement.

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It was created to get students thinking about making healthy food choices in life, while also encouraging them to get active and creative in the kitchen,” VanWoert said.   

For the competition last Friday, eight future chefs from Chester were amongst a group of more than 1,750 other students at 943 Sodexo-served school sites in 28 states nationally.

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Winner Graham Hamilton was chosen from finalists that included Julia Weinerman, Aanika Schueler, Mackenzie Brown, Emily Hess, Owen Curry, William Briney, and Julia Delaney. 

VanWoert said all of the finalists will have their culinary creations served in the school in the near future.

“Each of their salads will be featured on our Sodexo school lunch menus in the future,” VanWoert said. “We look forward to dining on your salads in the near future.”

Hamilton’s submission will now be considered for 27 regional finalist awards.  The regional finalist will then vie to become one of five national finalists competing for public votes for their favorite recipe on a Special Future Chefs You Tube Channel.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here