Future chefs showcase their skills!

Five talented elementary students from Lake Washington School District (LWSD) schools competed in the Future Chef Competition on March 4. Selected from more than 60 submissions, these young chefs teamed up with mentors from LWSD Nutrition Services, operated by Sodexo, to create recipes that reflected their personality, culture and creativity.

This year’s theme was “Passport to Flavor: Take Your Tastebuds on a Global Adventure,” inspiring students to craft dishes bursting with international flair. Each competitor prepared samples for judges, families and guests, all evaluated on taste, presentation and creativity.

The competition was incredibly close, but judges named Ava Shylesh from Twain Elementary as the Grand Prize Winner for her delicious Tofu Tikka Bites! Ava’s Tofu Tikki Bites impressed the judges and earned her the top spot, giving her the chance to represent the district in the National Future Chefs Competition where she will compete virtually against other young chefs from Sodexo districts across the country.

Congratulations to Ava and all our amazing student chefs for their passion, hard work and global culinary imagination!

Events like this wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of the mentors, Sodexo staff, and planning team members who guided students through the competition. Special thanks to the Sodexo staff and mentors and the planning team led by LWSD Executive Chef, Cody Tix.