MARIANNA, Fla. — The culinary arts classroom at Marianna High School was bubbling with activity Thursday night, as six pint-sized chefs, with the help of their school’s food services staff, whipped up a batch of snacks for the chance to represent Jackson County in the Sodexo Future Chefs: Health Snack Challenge.
With the Sodexo Star mascot shooting from station to station offering a morale boost to those feeling the heat of the kitchen competition, family and friends watched ingredients come together to make savory and sweet treats that would soon be in front of the judges.
Dressed in chef’s whites, students Heyleigh Rattin (Graceville Elementary School), Jayla Gandy (Riverside Elementary School), Dominique Mason (Malone School), Keishara Garrett (Malone School), Josie Granger (Riverside Elementary School) and Majiyah Garrett (Sneads Elementary School) made their way to the MHS auditorium for the official taste test.
One by one, judges Susie Barber, Charlotte Gardner, Chris Johnson, Angie Locke and Mark Panichella were tasked with scoring each student’s recipe based on its use of health-conscious foods, kid-friendly preparation, fun foods, judge’s choice and best table presentation. Their decision would send one recipe to the regional competition, and possibly to the national Future Chefs challenge.
When all was said and done, two co-champions were named for this year’s competition. According to Sodexo General Manager Jack Noonan, Majiyah Garrett and Keishara Garrett will share the title, but based on scoring from the judges, Keishara’s “Frozen Yogurt Bars” will be the recipe moving on to the regional challenge.