CULINARY CHALLENGE
Our students are changing school lunch menus.
And this is the only event where you can see how they do it!
Since 2012, the Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge has provided students the unique experience of mirroring the responsibilities of school nutrition professionals by creating delicious, healthy school meals that represent the diverse culinary traditions in our school communities. All while staying within the defined nutrition parameters and cost thresholds of the federally funded National School Meal Program.
It is the only professional culinary competition open to both middle and high school students, and the only competition where students have an opportunity to see their recipe adapted and served on school lunch lines around the Greater Metropolitan Region.
The “challenge” at the heart of this competition is the same one faced by school food professionals every day: to craft healthy and delicious menu items that meet USDA guidelines and adhere to strict per-meal budgets.
11th Annual Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Robinson Secondary School | 5035 Sideburn Rd | Fairfax, VA 22032
The theme of the next Culinary Challenge is
“Fresh Take on Tradition”
Students are asked to create plant-forward meals reflecting the school community, cultural, and lived experience of team members.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
The 2023 Culinary Challenge team lineup includes the following schools:
LUNCH CATEGORY
Ballou High School (DC Public Schools)
Herndon High School (Fairfax County Public Schools)
Mount Vernon High School (Fairfax County Public Schools)
Fauquier High School (Fauquier County Public Schools)
Blue Ridge Middle School (Loudoun County Public Schools)
Takoma Park Middle School (Montgomery County Public Schools)
Springbrook High School (Montgomery County Public Schools)
Hylton High School (Prince William County Public Schools)
BREAKFAST CATEGORY
Hylton High School (Prince William County Public Schools)
Mount Vernon High School (Fairfax County Public Schools)
SNACK CATEGORY
Luther Jackson Middle School (Fairfax County Public Schools)
Fauquier High School (Fauquier County Public Schools)
CULINARY MENTORS
Ype Von Hengst
Executive Chef and Co-Founder, Silver Diner
VP of Culinary Operations at Silver Diner
Bonnie S. Benwick
Former Washington Post Deputy Recipe Editor; RFFK Culinary and Program Advisor
Chef Ryan Moore
Executive Chef at Sababa
2023 JUDGES
Chef Tim Ma
Founder & CEO Lucky Danger | Culinary Director Laoban Dumplings | Co-Founder Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate
Lindsey Fern
Director of Beverage for The Inn at Little Washington and Patty O’s Cafe
Daniella Senior
CEO, The Colada Shop
Aaron Hutcherson
Food Writer and Recipe Developer at The Washington Post
Chef Katherine Thompson
Pastry Chef and Co-Owner of Thompson Italian
Chef Jerome Grant
James Beard-nominated founding chef of Sweet Home Café at the National Museum of African American History
Ed Kwitowski
RFFK Board + DC Public Schools, Food and Nutrition
Allison Sosna
Director of Community Nutrition and Procurement at Tangelo
Forrest Gonia
Former two-time Culinary Challenge Participant
CELEBRITY CHEF DEMOS
Chef Kevin Tien
Executive Chef, Moon Rabbit, Owner/Exec. Chef Hot Lola's, three-time James Beard nominee, Food & Wine Best New Chef 2018 and co-founder of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate
Chef Ryan Moore
Executive Chef at Sababa
Bonnie S. Benwick
Cooking Demo Host
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A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2023 CULINARY CHALLENGE SPONSORS
Click to visit page and find out more about last year’s event!
