February 19, 2015

Student chefs compete in The Culinary Voice

Winning dish will be served in local school cafeterias

By Aubrey Nagle
PhillyVoice Contributor

iStock.com/Creativestock

Fresh produce.

Gross school lunches have become a staple of American childhoods, but a few students - with the help of local organizations - want to change that. The second annual Culinary Voice, a cooking competition held at the Free Library's Culinary Literacy Center on Feb. 26, will be their platform.

During the competition, student teams from Murrell Dobbins, A. Philip Randolph and Swenson Arts and Technology High Schools’ Culinary Arts programs will prepare healthy breakfast recipes of their own making for over 100 people. The winning team's recipe, selected by a panel of judges, will become part of the breakfast menu at all full-service School District of Philadelphia cafeterias.

After the students duke it out for the top honor, a public reception will be held featuring live music by the Creative and Performing Arts High School Jazz Combo and light refreshments courtesy of Brown's ShopRite. The supplies and foods used in the competition have also be generously donated by the Brown family of stores.

Get Healthy Philly and the School District of Philadelphia organized the event. The Free Library of Philadelphia, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), the Food Trust and the Vetri Foundation are all co-sponsors.

If you're a fan of culinary competition reality shows, this is a can't-miss event - you never know if you'll meet a celebrity chef in the making!

The Culinary Voice

Thursday, February 26
Public reception 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Free admission
Free Library Culinary Literacy Center
1901 Vine St., Fourth Floor
(215) 686-5323

Aubrey Nagle
PhillyVoice Contributor