The community has voted and two teams have been selected as finalists in United Way’s Youth Cooking Challenge underwritten by MVP Health Care.
This unique competition began with six contestants being selected and paired with a local chef. Each team was professionally filmed preparing their “signature” dish. The public then had the opportunity to vote for their favorite child and chef team.
The finalists are:
• Olivia Cofano, 11 and Chef Michael Latreille of Micahel’s Fine Food and Spirits who created a Crispy Panko-Crusted Chicken over gnocchi, blistered tomatoes and topped with lemon arugula, and
• Jonathan Kornmeyer, 11 and Victor Ramirez of Madison Bistro with their Mediterranean Seafood dish of mussels and cod with prosciutto, fennel, olives, artichokes and batard bread
The two teams will advance to a “cook-off” finale event at Restaurant Equipment Equipment Corp.’s fully equipped test kitchen and go head to head creating at least two dished incorporating up to four surprise ingredients!
The champion will be chosen the night of the finale event on April 10th by judges including Jacqueline Marciniak of MVP Health Care, Sonia Martinez of the Mohawk Valley Latino Association, and Bill Vinci of The Empire Plate.
