Youths cook up a storm at 4-H competition

ST. CROIX - Because of an overwhelming, unprecedented response for participation in the junior category of the fourth annual 4-H Youth Super Chef Competition at World Food Day, six culinary teams from public and private schools had to break out their pots, pans, knives and ingredients Monday for the right to show off their skills in Sunday's event at the University of the Virgin Islands.

When the cooking was finished, young culinary enthusiasts from Good Hope School, Elena Christian Junior High and IQRA Academy edged out their competition from Country Day School, AZ Academy and Eulalie Rivera School during the 105-minute competition at UVI Cooperative Extension Service on St. Croix.

The extension service gave each team a lamb shoulder, a pineapple, a bag of sweet peppers and a $75 gift certificate to Plaza Extra for extra ingredients, said Sue Lakos, an UVI extension agent and a member of the World Food Day steering committee. The teams had 15 minutes for preparation and 90 minutes for cooking.

Using their ingredients, the students had to submit at least three entries from among appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts or beverages to the judges: pastry chef Jennifer Jordan; Wallace Phaire Jr., owner-chef of Schooner Bay Market; and Jo Murphy, coordinator for Career and Technical Education for the St. Croix district.

The students were judged on first impression, professional technique and skill, presentation, best use of ingredients and knowledge and understanding of nutrition and economic benefits of their dishes.

Phaire said younger students are the most difficult to judge.

"They put everything they have in it," he said. "They're not afraid to use sharp knives, heat or fire."

Sarah Dahl-Smith, also an extension agent and member of the steering committee, said the competition is an opportunity for children to learn about culinary arts and to develop life skills.

"They learn teamwork, planning and organization," Dahl-Smith said. "They learn the nutrition benefits of lamb, pineapples and peppers. It's also done to celebrate World Food Day, to bring attention to those that do not have a ready supply of food on a daily basis, which also applies here on St. Croix."

Students from Good Hope School, IQRA Academy and St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center will advance to compete in the senior category of the competition.

World Food Day, a worldwide event designed to bring awareness and understanding to alleviate hunger, will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday and focus on pineapples, peppers and lamb, the main ingredients in the youth cooking competition. The first 30 people to sign up to attend the workshops will receive seedlings, small pineapple plants and free sample dishes, according to a press release about the event.

This year's World Food Day theme, "Food Prices - From Crisis to Stability," was chosen to shed light on how food prices can impact diet, particularly for the most vulnerable people.

A "Pineapple Splash" competition, which is open to the public, will be held at the event for the best bread, dessert and drink for prizes.

Food and drink vendors, a farmers' market, a petting zoo and entertainment by the Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra, the Guardians of Culture Mocko Jumbies, St. Croix Martial Arts and the Emancipation Quadrille Dancers will round out the day's activities.

The entrance fee for the event is a non-perishable item for a food drive that will go to local food banks.

The event is sponsored by the UVI Cooperative Extension Service, the V.I. Agriculture Department, the UVI Agricultural Experiment Station, Gannet Hardware and Plaza Extra.

- Contact Cristian Simescu at 774-8772 ext. 459 or email simescu@dailynews.vi.

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