Contributed by Madie Murray

Calling all Orcas and Waldron public school students!   Somewhere, stuffed in an old cookbook or in your head, is the recipe for the greatest sandwich, soup, dessert, casserole, meatloaf, pasta, omelet granola, salad or taco in the world, and we want every public school student to taste it.

The Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Committee will be conducting the First Ever OISD Student Chef Competition on April 17th and 18th at the public school.   All students, K through 12, in the Orcas Island Public School District including Waldron are invited to submit written individual or team entries no later than March 19, 2010 to be considered as a competitor in the cooking competition in April.  The public will be invited to watch and cheer their favorite student chef on to victory.   “We’re really excited about this event because it involved students in all grades in the competition as well as the community in the judging and awards ceremony,” says student Farm to Cafeteria Committee member and event co-organizer Iris Parker-Pavitt.

Four entries will be chosen to compete in each of three Tiers:  Elementary, Middle School and High School…twelve in all.  There will be a cash prizewinner in each Tier as well as a grand prizewinner that may be from any Tier.  Recipes may be submitted for any type of breakfast or lunch item including (but not limited to) salad, soup, sandwich, dessert, side dish, main course, or snack.  Practicality and creativity are encouraged. The winning items will be featured in the school lunch menu.

Deadline to receive entries will be March 19, 2010.  Go to www.orcasislandf2c.org to download recipe guidelines, information on the competition and how to submit your prizewinning recipe. Iris, Bruce Orchid or Madie Murray can also answer any question you may have regarding participation or sponsorship.

CALL FOR SPONSORS!

Any individual or business may be a sponsor for the First Ever Student Chef Competition at a Copper Kettle ($50), Silver Spoon ($100), Golden Spatula ($250), or Platinum Platter ($500) level.  Sponsors will be prominently listed in our promotional materials and programs and gratefully appreciated! Sponsorships for this event will enable us to give generous prizes, provide equipment and items needed for the competitors, as well as ensure the ongoing endeavors of the F2C Program.  Sponsorship checks should be made payable to OIEF and sent to Madie Murray, F2C Chair, 36 Colorado Blvd., Eastsound, WA 98245.  Be sure to put “Student Chef” on the check.