ELYRIA, Ohio — Fifth-grader David Watkins from Ely Elementary School in Elyria has the skills in the kitchen and the awards to prove it.
Seven chefs put their best Mexican-inspired dishes to the test Thursday, and for the third time, David came out on top with the grand prize in the Future Chef Competition at Elyria High School, according to an article by the Elyria Chronicle.
“That’s how it’s done, son!” David said after his taco pizza breadsticks won the grand prize, which included a trophy and cookware.
David will go on to compete at the next level of the nationwide competition. He told the Elyria Chronicle that his favorite food is chili fries and that he can cook a mean mac and cheese.
The competition was heated in the kitchen as the chefs had an hour to complete their dish while maintaining focus and calling out requests to assistants to preheat their ovens and chop vegetables.
Judges in this year's competition included Elyria Schools Superintendent Ann Schloss, Assistant Director of Pupil Services Amy Bodnar, Elyria Schools Board of Education member Jim Backs and Briana Keith, the previous year’s Future Chef grand prize winner for Elyria Schools, according to The Chronicle.
