The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is excited to partner with NC FCCLA, the NC Department of Public Instruction and the Farm to School Coalition of NC to host the North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition!

The North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition (NCJCC) seeks student-created and tested recipes for school meals. The goal of the NC Jr. Chef Competition is to inspire students to be involved in the development of healthier eating habits, especially when it comes to school meals. In addition, the intent of the competition is to inspire the next generation of culinary professionals, stimulate interest in locally produced agriculture, provide nutrition education, and ultimately increase the consumption of healthy school meals.

The NCJCC will recognize students for their ability to work as members of a team to demonstrate valuable skills in recipe development, food preparation, marketing, public presentation, organization, and local food systems. The NCJCC consists of two parts: 1) a recipe contest and 2) cook-off.

Student teams must develop a recipe that meets the guidelines to submit for the NCJCC recipe contest.

​During the NCJCC cook-off, finalist teams must prepare, cook, and plate their recipe and present (2) plates of their prepared recipe to judges. The NC Jr. Chef Competition cookoff will take place in conjunction with the NC FCCLA Culinary and Baking & Pastry Competition Day at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte.

For more information visit: ​https://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov/news-events/nc-jr-chef
Or email: NCJrChef@gmail.com