INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Students going into 4th through 12th grade who like to cook should enter the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services “2015 Student Chef Cook-Off.” The deadline to enter is Sept. 13. For more rules and to submit an entry, go to FreshFromFlorida.com/Cookoff.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is searching for student chefs to promote “Fresh From Florida” recipes and products.
Entry requirements include:
• Must be a Florida student going into 4th-12th grade.
• Must create an original snack recipe and submit with a photo.
• The recipe must contain one fresh fruit or fresh vegetable grown in Florida.
• The recipe must have clear directions, provide four snack-size servings and be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
• Recipe must promote good nutrition and healthy eating habits.
Students in six regions will submit recipes that will first be judged on nutrition, presentation/appeal and originality. The grade categories are 4th-5th grade, 6th-8th grade and 9th-12th grade. Three qualifying round winners from each grade category will be invited to cook their recipes for a panel of judges at Publix Aprons Cooking Schools in their region.
Finalist rounds will be held:
• Oct. 3: Tampa- Central/West
• Oct. 10: Orlando- Central
• Oct. 17: Sarasota- West
• Oct. 24: Boca Raton- South
• Nov. 7: Tallahassee- Northwest
• Nov. 14: Jacksonville- Northeast
Each regional cook-off recipe will be judged in person on taste, originality, presentation/appeal and technique. Third-place winners will receive a $50 gift card; second-place winners a $75 gift card and first-place winners a $100 gift card. All winners will also receive a certificate for a free Publix Aprons Cooking School.
First place winners in the 9th-12th grade will continue to the state finale cook-off at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa on Feb. 6, 2016. The winner will receive a $500 gift card and title of the “Fresh for Florida Kids Student Chef” for 2015-16.
