The Great Mushroom Recipe Contest
Flik Independent School Dining (FISD) and the Mushroom Council recently partnered to promote creativity of the use of mushrooms in K-12 school foodservice. What better way to do that than a recipe contest between FISD’s school chefs?
During the spring semester, FISD chefs took one day to showcase two mushroom recipes in their school dining rooms. Students voted on their favorite recipe. The recipe with the most votes was the one to be submitted for the Mushroom Recipe Contest, in one of four categories: Breakfast, Salads, Entrees or “Swapability”.
Three finalists were picked for each of the four categories, for a total of 12 finalists. On April 25, FISD and the Mushroom Council brought together a panel of judges at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City to taste the 12 finalist recipes and determine the winners of each category, as well as pick a grand prize winner. Each recipe was prepared by culinary students at ICE and was professionally photographed.
The 12 finalist recipes were knock outs; we could not have imagined better great creativity and versatility! Congratulations to:
Grand Prize Winner
Baked Maitaki “Oyster” New Orleans Style
Doug Gauthier, FISD Sous
Chef, Middlesex School in Concord, MA
Breakfast Category Winner
Grilled Portabella with Sausage, Egg and Hollandaise
Todd Chasteen, FISD
Executive Chef, Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, ME
Salad Category Winner
Mushroom Rice Salad with Portabella Vinaigrette
Darrell Robinson, FISD
First Cook, Gilman School in Baltimore, MD
Entree Category Winner
Mushroom Strudel with Gorgonzola and Demi Glaze
Scott Iwanicki, FISD
Executive Chef, The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, CT
Swapability Category Winner
Mushroom Stroganoff with Creme Fraiche in Phyllo Cup
Michael King, FISD
Director of Dining Services, Hopkins School in New Haven, CT
Other Finalists:
Cornbread and Grilled Portabella Panzanella Salad
Mushroom Crepes with Huevos Rancheros
Shiitake Mushroom Ice Cream with Chocolate-covered Bacon
Bits
Triple Mushroom Truffle Goat Cheese Pizza
The Judges:
Ray Mulligan, President, Flik Independent School Dining
Adam Byrne, Corporate Executive Chef, Flik Independent School Dining
Bart Minor, President, Mushroom Council
Tara Fitzpatrick, Associate Editor, Food Management magazine
Peggy Neu, President, Monday Campaigns
– Joann Khoder, VP of Support Services, Flik Independent School Dining