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
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

Chef Masako Morishita

Chef Rock Harper

Hollis Wells Silverman

Forrest Gonia

Sami Reilly

Olivier Lau

Brittany “Bee” Thorp

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