In collaboration with Chartwells, the Carson City School District foodservice partner, Intermediate Culinary Arts students from Eagle Valley Middle and Carson Middle Schools faced off in a tong to spatula culinary clash of the city’s best middle school chefs. The “Discovery Kitchen Cook Off” event, similar to a mini version of the Food Network’s Iron Chef, was a timed cooking competition featuring six teams of middle school students who prepared succulent dishes for a judging panel.

Discovery Kitchen Cook Off
Culinary Students from Carson Middle School
Discovery Kitchen Cook Off Group
Discovery Kitchen Cook Off Slicing

Held at Carson Middle School yesterday afternoon, the meals were assembled with specific themed ingredients and required the competitors to prepare a protein with a custom sauce, their choice of starch and a veggie. Whose cuisine reigned supreme? The teriyaki ribeye rice bowl served with homemade teriyaki sauce, sticky white rice and sautéed red peppers, onions and broccoli. The winning dish was prepared by Eagle Valley Middle School eighth graders Jasenia Avila, Dalila Dones, Eliza Monrroy and Wyatt Valentine.

The winning team was awarded a trophy, and each team member received a medallion and an individual $25 gift card to the Chef’s Store in Carson City. All of the competitors also received a “Discovery Kitchen Cook-Off” apron and hat. 

The judges included Athena Peters, director of dining services and executive chef, with Chartwells at the Carson City School District; Brooke Tompkins, operations manager with Chartwells for California and Nevada; Spencer Winward, chief financial and operations officer for the Carson City School District; and Ryan Canaday, news anchor with KTVN, Ch. 2.

Discovery Kitchen Cook Off turning up the heat
Discovery Kitchen Cook Off Winners – Wyatt Valentine, Jasenia Avila, Dalila Dones and Eliza Monrroy
Ms. Tammy Borremans of Carson Middle School and Mr. Francisco Garcia of Eagle Valley Middle School
Second Place Winners – Kevin Albin, Jasper Jones and James Walters of Eagle Valley Middle School
Second Place Winners from Carson Middle School – Heaven Maes, Karmah Rampley, Tiannah Silva and Michaela Cooper

The “Discovery Kitchen Cook Off” was made possible in part by the Carson City Schools Foundation, which sponsored a grant for kitchen equipment, including rice cookers for the culinary program.

ABOUT Carson City School District

Located in Nevada’s capital, Carson City School District offers public education to approximately 7,300 students throughout Carson City. The district includes 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 1 comprehensive high school. Carson City School District boasts many successes including impressive graduation rates, strict safety measures, programs for gifted students and advanced-placement classes, among several others. For more information, visit carsoncityschools.com.