Daniel Chapman discusses his Asian Beef Noodles recipe with one of the judges.
Natalie Mielitz, who won the competition last year, discusses cuisine with one of the chefs.
Chef Natalia prepares her dish for the competition.
Chef Natalia wins first place for her recipe.
Seven young chefs from the Centralia School District competed in the Elementary Chef Competition on Tuesday afternoon.
“What this is, is a cooking competition for fourth and fifth graders,” said Mike Young, Centralia School District food services director. “It’s meant to be fun, get them excited about healthy food. Healthy Asian Fusion is our theme, and it’s just to get them excited about food in general, about healthy eating.”
Young organized the first competition last year, where chef Natalie Mielitz won with her taco cups. This year, Natalie was a judge.
“I think they all have a really, really good chance of winning,” Natalie said while the chefs prepared their dishes. “Taste is important, but I want to see some really good plating. I always watch the food channel and they judge how the plates look also.”
The chefs were from both Oakview Elementary School and Washington Elementary School.
“I like cooking and I thought it would be fun,” said chef Felix Haugan while prepping his dish for the judges.
Felix made Asian meatloaf and won third place. He said he does a lot of cooking and was training for a while to make the dish. The recipe is a spinoff of a similar dish his uncle makes.
Chef Riley Richardson said she is always helping her grandma in the kitchen. She made teriyaki chicken with a rice bowl.
“I love cooking,” Riley said. “My family, we’re always cooking and it’s something I really love.” Riley won second place.
Daniel Chapman made Asian beef noodles for the competition. He cooked the recipe five different times before the competition to perfect his method. When asked what his favorite thing to make was outside of the competition, Daniel responded, “I have to be honest with you, it’s mac and cheese.”
Judges included Natalie, school board members Kim Ashmore and Amy Buzzard, Washington Elementary Vice Principal Danielle Vekich, Oakview Elementary Principal Shannon Richards and Superintendent Mark Davalos.
Davalos said he jumped at the opportunity to be a judge this year after witnessing some of the dishes at last year’s competition.
“I think they were all top,” Davalos said after the competition. “I didn’t find one thing I didn’t like. I admire the enthusiasm of these kids. They light up and become a different person when they have this opportunity.”
Natalia, from Washington Elementary and whose last name was not provided, ultimately won first place.
“It feels great,” Natalia said. “I honestly didn’t think I would win. Other people’s dishes looked so good.”
Natalia said she does a lot of cooking at home and cupcakes are her favorite thing to make. Her advice to future winners is to “just have a good time and don’t be worried.”
