Boys Town of California
Boys Town California Gourmet Cook-Off
Youth Engage in Spirited Culinary Competition at Trabuco Canyon Campus
Spatulas and mixers in hand, Boys Town California youth called on their culinary skills March 15 for the first annual McInnis Gourmet Cook-Off, a contest created and sponsored by volunteers Jim and Robin McInnis.
The children had kitchen help from their Family-Teachers and chefs Josh Miller and Jessica Vanroos from The Gourmet Child, an organization based in Fountain Valley, Calif., dedicated to “nourishing the bodies, minds and souls of children through the culinary arts.” The culinary experts visited the Trabuco Canyon campus previously for lessons in cooking and nutrition. Now the children put the skills they learned to the test in this spirited contest.
“We’re always looking for something new and creative that the girls and boys would not typically be exposed to,” said Robin McInnis. “I love cooking, and we came up with the idea for an Iron Chef type of contest that would be fun for them and a learning experience as well.”
The competition paired a team of boys preparing Italian cuisine and a team of girls preparing an Asian-themed dinner. The chefs and other volunteers from The Gourmet Child worked alongside each team to help them create from scratch an exquisite four-course meal with fresh ingredients.
The Italian meal prepared by the boys consisted of calabrase salad, stuffed mushrooms, chicken and spinach ravioli, and a tasty oreccica a la lucia desert. For the Asian theme, the girls offered spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce, wonton soup with homemade wontons, stir-fried chicken with macadamia nuts, rice with scallions, and coconut ice cream with Thai fried pineapple to finish.
“The opportunity to work with the Boys Town kids and watch their curiosity and skill emerge is very special,” said Susan Derrick, founder and director of The Gourmet Child. “We find that these experiences have valuable benefits for the children from confidence, life skills and teamwork to manners, etiquette and kitchen safety.”
A panel of eight judges tasted each meal and rated it based on creativity, presentation, taste and overall dining experience. After the two delicious meals, the judges tabulated the results. The winning team would be transported by super-size limousine for an elegant dining experience at the Ritz restaurant in Newport Beach the following evening. However, the hard work and performance of each team was so strong, the judges made a final decision that both would get to go.
The McInnis’s have a longstanding involvement with Boys Town California, including sponsorship of the Jim and Robin McInnis Scholarship and Aftercare Fund and the Swap Meet Entrepreneurs program. They were honored as the 2004 Spirit of Youth Award recipients at the organization’s 2004 Gala.
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