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AUGUSTA — Several central Maine schools are represented in the Maine Department of Education Maine Farm to School Cook-off, which kicks off March 29.
The cook-off showcases the skills of local school food service staff while promoting local products, and challenges the teams to use locally grown ingredients — including blueberries and potatoes — while making school meals that meet federal requirements.
School food service teams representing Lewiston, Turner’s Regional School Unit 52, Skowhegan’s RSU 54, Falmouth, Yarmouth and Windham/Raymond’s RSU 14 are participating this year.
Each team must prepare a breakfast and lunch on a deaadline using at least two ingredients that are grown, raised, caught or manufactured in Maine and one USDA-required food, while meeting National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. As an added twist, Maine wild blueberries and potatoes will be used as “challenge ingredients” in the competition. All recipes will later be shared in a Maine farm to school cook-off recipe book.
Regional cook-offs are March 27 at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center and on March 31 at Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta.
The final cook-off, on April 26, will be held at Freeport High School’s newly renovated kitchen and dining area.
Westbrook and Augusta CTE centers are returning hosts for the cook-off, while Freeport High School joins in for the first time. The locations were chosen as cook-off sites for their well-equipped kitchens and cooking and presentation areas.
A CTE culinary arts student, school nutrition director and professional chef will make up the judging teams for each regional cook-off. The dishes will be scored based on presentation, taste, creativity and feasibility to be used in a school breakfast or lunch program. Other criteria will include food safety and time management.
Judges for the final event will include a Freeport High School student, a school nutrition director and a professional chef. The winning team will be awarded a plaque and have the opportunity to be spokespeople for the second annual cook-off in 2018.
The cook-off is part of the state’s child nutrition projects and follows legislation to support healthy meals in schools. For more information on Maine’s Local Foods to Local Schools program, visit maine.gov/doe/nutrition/programs/localfoods.
Last year’s participants were from Lewiston Public Schools, RSU 38, Portland Public Schools and RSU 61, with the winning team from CSD/MSAD 28 and RSU 13 – Rockport, Camden, Rockland and surrounding towns.
