CANTON - The first North Country Jr. Iron Chefs have been named.

his cooking competition for middle and high school student teams from around the north country was held earlier this month. Each team prepared a healthy dish with both local and commodity ingredients that could be “realistically prepared in a school cafeteria,” according to event organizers at the Health Initiative.

Competition winners include:

Middle School:

1st: Healthy in Heuvelton, Heuvelton Central School, Central Valley Harvest Bake

2nd: Healthy Panthers, Brushton-Moira Central School, Minestrone Soup

3rd: Stone Cold Chefs, AA Kingston Middle School (Potsdam), Veggie Pockets

Honorable Mention: Canton Golden Chefs, Canton Central School, Bean and Cheese Burrito with Pico de Gallo

High School:

1st: Future Chefs, North Franklin Educational Center BOCES, Spicy Chipotle Black Bean Grilled Cheese Sliders

2nd: Top Cats, Northern Adirondack Central School, NACH Your Average Veggie Pizza

3rd: Seaway Tech, Seaway Technical Center BOCES, Vegetarian Korma

Honorable Mention: Seaway Tracker, Seaway Technical Center BOCES, Pasta Primavera with Light Marinara Sauce

An expert panel from various sectors of the food and education worlds travelled across the seven-county region to judge the dishes.

Youth competing in the event report learning about nutritious foods that taste “really good,” improving teamwork, and having fun. If you are part of a school community, look forward to tasting some healthy, local food soon as many teams have plans to serve the winning dishes to their school board, wellness committe, and in their lunchroom.

Sarah Bentley-Garfinkel of the Health Initiative said, “We remain in awe of all the competing teams.”

Check out the event website in the coming weeks for event photos and all of the recipes entered in the competition: http://ncjrironchef.org/.

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