Fifteen “cheftestants” at Hopewell Elementary School participated in Top Chef Hopewell, a friendly after school cooking competition for students in grades 3-5.
Each week consisted of a demonstration and tasting led by a local chef, a cooking competition and the crowing of the week’s top chef. Guest chefs, along with their current position and week’s focus, included:
Nick Ya, sushi chef at Ota Ya in Lambertville (“sushi rolls”)Brian Kirby, chef at Winberie’s in Princeton (“Gourmet mac and cheese”)Chris Voigtsberger, chef/owner at Acacia in Lawrenceville, along with Katie Santini, math/science teacher leader (“The Science of Cooking Breakfast”)Antimo Love, chef/owner at Antimo’s Italian Kitchen in Hopewell (“Flatbreads”)Miss Clair, chef/manager at Hopewell Elementary (“Homemade chicken noodle soup”)
As a culminating experience, during lunch periods, cheftestants recently prepared and served an organic meal for nearly 100 students and staff consisting of grilled chicken and vegetable kebobs with roasted potatoes and sliced fruit.
Each student received a personalized apron. Most children purchased custom cutting boards from Our Board Boutique. Produce purchased was local and organic, when possible. All monies collected and not used were donated to the East Trenton Center, a community center that provides programs and services to meet the basic needs of both children and adults in the East Trenton community.
Top Chef Hopewell was hosted by Principal David Friedrich. It provided an opportunity for students to develop healthy eating habits, learn new cooking techniques, create recipes, prepare delicious food with new friends, compete and collaborate with others while having fun. Friedrich hopes to offer another class to aspiring chefs at Hopewell Elementary School in the fall of 2016.
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