From Our March-April Issue
In their first ever competition, Miami Lakes Educational Center’s (MLEC) culinary strand beat out the competition at the “Taste of Education,” an event founded by the Education Fund.
“About 30 schools compete each year. This is the 5th year that we’ve hosted this event, but this is the first year that MLEC’s culinary students have actually entered. It was the first time we had gone to an event and competed as a school,” said Mr. Nunez, the culinary strand teacher.
For the competition, students had to make the best vegetarian dish. Although it was not an easy feat, MLEC jaguars still reigned victorious.
“At first, we didn’t really know what kind of vegetarian dish to submit to the competition, but after doing some research and figuring out how to make falafels, we came up with something we were happy with,” said Mr. Nunez. “It was a challenge to learn how to make a vegetarian dish, especially since we didn’t expect to make one in the first place,” he continued.
The competition was as exciting as it sounds. After their entry in October of 2019, students gathered at Jungle Island for an evening of food and celebration and, of course, to prepare gourmet meals on the spot. Underclassmen learned new skills and got a one-of-a-kind experience as student ‘chefs-in-training.’
“I was nervous at first, but as we went by, it was very fun. I learned what to do and what not to do while making and preparing food. The seniors taught me how to plate; it was something I had never done before,” said Maya Rodger, a freshman at MLEC and a team member from the competition. “I had never been to a competition like that before,” Rodger continued.
This is only the first taste of competition for the MLEC’s culinary strand, but they are already hungering for more and looking to show off their skills and hard work outside of the classroom.
“Now more than ever I’m more inspired to keep going in the culinary field. All of that adrenaline by working fast and by working with the seniors really inspired me. Next year we’re going to go all out. I can’t wait,” said Rodger.
