Jr Iron Chef VT

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2023 JR IRON CHEF VT TEAMS AND THANK YOU FOR A GREAT COMPETITION!

To ensure that Jr Iron Chef VT remains accessible to all Vermont students through team scholarships and registration fees lowered to one-third the true cost of the event, Vermont Afterschool relies on the generous support of our sponsors as well as a suggested admissions fee of $3 per person and $5 per family.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator Kerrie Mathes.

2023 Event Info

Timeline

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JR IRON CHEF VT TURNS 15!

The 2023 Jr Iron Chef VT competition will be held March 11, 2023 at the Champlain Valley Exposition Blue Pavilion, at 105 Pearl Street in Essex Junction.

11-15-22: Early Bird registration opens.
12-15-22: Regular registration opens, early bird closes
01-31-23: Regular registration closes
02-16-23: Recipe, Team Members, Parent Permission submission deadline
03-03-23: Lively Local (if applicable) submission deadline
03-11-23: Jr Iron Chef VT competition!

Plan Your Trip

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Location
The Champlain Valley Exposition
105 Pearl Street
Essex Junction, Vermont 05452
Directions

Event Schedule
8:45 AM: Team set up begins
9:00 AM: Doors open to public
9:30–11:00 AM: Morning heat competition
11:45–12:15PM: Morning heat awards
12:15 PM: Team set up begins
1:00–2:30 PM: Afternoon heat competition
3:15–3:45 PM: Afternoon heat awards

Concession Stand
Watching a cooking competition is bound to make you hungry! Visit the concession stand to purchase breakfast, lunch, and snack items. Concessions will be by long-time Jr Iron Chef VT collaborator Chef Jim McCarthy, co-owner of The Mill Market and Deli.

Activities

Sugar on Snow/ Maple Popcorn by End-o-The Road Maple / Chittenden County Maple Sugarmakers Association
Crepe Spinning by Skinny Pancake
Taste Tests by Shelburne Farms and VT FEED
STEM by Vermont Public
Ice Cream Making by Vermont Afterschool
Smoothie Bike by City Market

Team Info & Forms

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COVID Safety Protocols

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We continue to work with the Vermont Department of Health concerning COVID-19 in our community as we get close to our in-person event.

Masks are optional and we respect those who choose to wear a mask. We encourage you to wear a mask if you are immuno-compromised, have a high-risk loved one, or if you just like how you look in a mask. We also reserve the right to change this policy as needed as we approach the event.
We will provide all team members with non-latex gloves to prepare food.
Following CDC guidelines, people may not attend if they are feeling ill, have currently tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting for COVID-19 test results, have COVID-19 symptoms, or have had close contact with a person who has tested positive for or who has symptoms of COVID-19. If you have recently had COVID, we ask that you have two negative antigen tests 24 hours apart, prior to the event.

Judging

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Awards

The following honors will be given in the Morning and Afternoon Award Ceremonies for each age category:

CROWD-PLEASER — This award goes to the team that best incorporates color, texture, and taste for a true crowd-pleaser.
LIVELY LOCAL — This award goes to the team that best highlights Vermont foods.
MISE EN PLACE — (“Everything in its place”) This award goes to the team that shows exemplary teamwork, order, and professionalism.

Judging Criteria

EXECUTION — Clean and presentable uniforms including hard-soled shoes, hats, aprons, and safe food handling practices.
TEAMWORK — Evenly distributed workload, team cohesiveness & communication.
TASTE — Subjective category based on judge’s expertise.
CREATIVITY — Ingenuity of the ingredients used, creative use of ingredients.
LOCAL — Recipe highlights local, seasonal products (only for the Lively Local Award).
COMPLIANCE — Meets all Jr. Iron Chef VT Guidelines and Rules.

Each year, we are fortunate to have volunteer judges from around Vermont that have a wide range of culinary and food expertise.

2023’s Judges

Volunteers

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During the event weekend of the event, dozens of volunteers help with set-up, team registration, activities, and clean-up. Volunteers receive free admission to the Jr Iron Chef VT competition.

If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Jr Iron Chef VT Coordinator Kerrie Mathes.

FAQs

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Who can participate?

How are the dishes judged?

What are the registration fees used for?

What if there are too many applications?

How do I find a chef to work with?

Can our adult/chaperone help us cook?

How are the recipes reviewed?

Is there a Cancellation Policy?

Who can participate?