THE PLAYERS has teamed up with Duval County Public Schools to hold a “Cooking with Champions” event designed to educate students about the culinary arts field and test their cooking skills.
Several schools will take part in the competition, which is scheduled for Feb. 8 at Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology in Jacksonville.
Students will get the opportunity to work side by side and will be judged by TPC Sawgrass senior executive chef Azhar Mohammad and PGA Tour Global Home chef director Eric Butcher.
“We can give an exposure to a student like nowhere else in this area,” Mohammad said. “We need to get these students familiar with what it’s like in the culinary field.”
The recipe chosen for students to cook will be a dish featuring scallops and served with butternut squash risotto.
“Risotto is something every student needs to know,” Mohammad said.
He compared cooking risotto to that of cooking pasta.
According to Mohammad, when deciding on a recipe many factors were considered, including finding a dish that challenges the students’ skill sets, while also being a dish popular with many.
“By giving them a dish that is very technical, it will allow us to see their knife skills, how they sear and their temperature control,” Mohammad said.
Creating a popular dish is especially important because the winning group of students will then prepare the dish to be served to patrons during this year’s championship in March.
“I’m excited to see the culinary talent,” Butcher said.
Publix will present each team with a $100 gift card to go toward the purchase of supplies to prepare for the competition. The business will also provide the necessary materials used during the event.
Florida State College of Jacksonville will offer a $500 scholarship to the winners with the option for them continuing their culinary experience at the school once they graduate high school.
Students were selected to compete in the competition after advancing through each school’s respective semifinal stage.
Five teams will compete and be represented by students from Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, Mandarin High School, First Coast High School and two teams will be from Sandalwood High School.
