After a week in which celebrity chefs and haute cuisine were center stage, St. Croix’s young chefs took the spotlight stage Saturday for the Kids Cooking event at the St. Croix Food and Wine Experience.
The chefs. age 6 to 12, learned how to make a nutritious healthy snack from fresh local produce. About 60 kids, accompanied by adults, made avocado parfaits and orange drinks in the cafeteria at Pearle B. Larsen Elementary School.
The parfaits were made with mashed avocado, coco powder and honey. Berries and shredded coconut topped it off. The children squeezed local sour oranges and mixed in water, basil and honey for a healthy beverage.
Visiting chef Todd Gray, who helped initiate the Chefs Move to Schools movement launched by first lady Michelle Obama, briefly talked to the students and parents about the impact of food on communities. And he said he was personally taking a St. Croix Kids Cooking apron, signed by the children attending the event, and giving it to the president’s wife.
“The first lady will be excited when she hears about St. Croix and what you’re doing.” Gray said. “Keep it up.”
Chefs Move to Schools is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that pairs chefs with schools to educate students about food and nutrition to help combat obesity.
Sanay Hewitt, 11 year old, said the cooking program was a good thing for kids to do.
“It’s been a good experience,” Hewitt said. “It’s something new and different for kids to do.”
Lucia Bishop, 11, said the class was fun and he was excited to take part.
Jennifer Matarangas- King, vice president of Public Relations and Governmental Affairs for Innovative, said the cable and television company is happy to have the Kids Cooking class as its signature event for the St. Croix Food and Wine Experience.
“This is a very meaningful and beneficial program,” Matarangas- King said. “They learn a lot about local food and nutrition in the class.”
