Real Food for Kids: Culinary Challenge

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.

13th Annual Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Hayfield Secondary School | 7630 Telegraph Rd Alexandria, VA 22315

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

The 2025 Culinary Challenge team lineup includes the following schools: 

LUNCH CATEGORY

C.D. Hylton High School, Prince William County Schools

Falls Church High School, Fairfax County Public Schools

Herndon High School, Fairfax County Public Schools

Luther Jackson Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools

Rock Ridge High School, Loudoun County Public Schools

Woodbridge High School, Prince William County Schools

BREAKFAST CATEGORY

C.D. Hylton High School, Prince William County Schools

Falls Church High School, Fairfax County Public Schools

Takoma Park Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools

SNACK CATEGORY

Shady Grove Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools

EVENT CHAIR

Chef Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit

CULINARY MENTOR

Ype Von Hengst, Silver Diner

2025 JUDGES

FEATURED CHEF COOKING DEMO

We are thrilled to welcome back Chef K.N. Vinod, a 2014 Culinary Challenge judge, along with Rahul Vinod, a 2024 Culinary Challenge judge.

Critically acclaimed RASA’s father-son duo Rahul Vinod and Chef Vinod will demonstrate how to prepare one of their signature dishes.

Award-winning RASA is a fast-casual Indian restaurant with five locations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, offering vibrant, healthy wraps and bowls.

Moderated by:

CHEF KEVIN TIEN

Executive Chef & Owner, Moon Rabbit
RFFK Industry Advisor & Culinary Challenge 2025 Chair

About Rahul Vinod

Rahul Vinod co-founded Washington, D.C.’s emerging fast-casual Indian restaurant brand, RASA. A former Wall Street Investment Banker at BNP Paribas turned restaurateur, Rahul grew up in the industry as the son of one of the nation’s prominent Indian chefs. As a child, Rahul continuously saw a number of barriers to trying Indian food for most Americans. This unique upbringing led him to partner with his childhood best friend to fulfill a lifelong dream of sharing the Indian flavors he grew up loving in a more approachable way. RASA has received critical acclaim, including recognition as the Best Concept Mid-Atlantic by Starchefs in 2022, and was named Best New Restaurant and Best Fast Casual by Washington City Paper in 2018, among others. He was named an Eater Young Gun in 2018 and received the 2021 Rising Terp Award from his alma mater, the University of Maryland. Rahul’s support of the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic led him to be recognized as a Thrillist Local Hero and a Local Changemaker by the Washington City Paper.

About Chef K.N. Vinod

Chef K.N. Vinod, Culinary Director at RASA, is a celebrated Indian chef and restaurateur, co-owning Indique in Washington, DC, Bombay Bistro in Rockville, MD, and Indique Heights Catering in Gaithersburg, MD.

For over two decades, Chef Vinod has delighted Washingtonians with his innovative Indian cuisine, earning acclaim from The Washington Post, Washingtonian, The New York Times, and Michelin Guide. His restaurants have hosted dignitaries, presidents, and celebrities, and Indique was recently nominated for the RAMMY Awards. He has also cooked at the prestigious James Beard House.

A global culinary ambassador, he has represented India at international food festivals, including the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival. His expertise has been showcased on Beat Bobby Flay, Fox TV, WUSA, WJLA, and TV Asia. He has also served on the board of DC Central Kitchen and is a member of the Chef Network at World Central Kitchen.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2025 CULINARY CHALLENGE SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

Volunteers are needed to support the Culinary Challenge on March 8 at Hayfield Secondary School and for event setup the day before. Visit our SignUp page for details.

Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Student opportunities may be accessed on X2vol (FCPS’s volunteer hub).

IN THE NEWS

Tasty: Takoma Park Middle School Wins, Puts Healthy Food On Area School Menus

Tasty: Takoma Park Middle School Wins, Puts Healthy Food On Area School Menus

The results are in and Takoma Park Middle School in Montgomery County, Md., ...

March 4, 2019
The Zebra
Vim & Victor’s Spike Mendelsohn signs on as a judge for Real Food for Kids Culinary Competition

Vim & Victor’s Spike Mendelsohn signs on as a judge for Real Food for Kids Culinary Competition

We all know the debate over school lunches: Where should the food come ...

February 22, 2019
Northern Virginia Magazine

2024 CULINARY CHALLENGE

Click to visit page and find out more about last year’s event!