Jr Iron Chef VT

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JR IRON CHEF VT TURNS 15 IN 2023!

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

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

Event Schedule
Morning heat: 9:30–11:00 AM; awards 12:00–12:30PM
Afternoon heat: 12:30–2:00 PM; awards 3:00–3:30PM

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

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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.
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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

Sarah Heusner

Nisachon Morgan

Emma Makdessi

Giacomo Vascotto

Laura La Vacca

Jim Birmingham

Laura Kanya

Julian Hackney

Cheryl Niedzwiecki

Katie Mobley

María Lara-Bregatta

Dr Deb

Allan Walker-Hodkin

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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.

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2023 Jr Iron Chef VT is Made Possible by Generous Support from:

executive Chefs ($5000+)

Sous Chefs ($1000+)

Vermont Pulic
City Market Onion River Co-Op
Hannaford
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
Market 32 by Price Chopper
Vermont Agency of Education

Commis Chefs ($500+)

Vermont Creamery

Iron Chefs ($100+)

The Windjammer & Upper Deck Pub

Spruce Mortgage

Chittenden County Chiropractic

Northfield Savings Bank

Past Events

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Coming soon!

About

Jr Iron Chef VT is a career exploration program and competition that teaches communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills by empowering Vermont youth to create locally sourced meals that promote Vermont’s Farm to School efforts.

“Because of Jr Iron Chef, I know how to be a good leader.”

Jr Iron Chef VT launched in 2008 as a collaborative effort between two leaders in the Farm to School movement, the Burlington School Food Project and Vermont FEED. In 2022, Vermont Afterschool assumed management of the program and competition.

As we enter our 15th year, we celebrate the more than 5,000 Vermont middle and high school students who have participated in this groundbreaking culinary program. Not only have students learned how to create and prepare recipes from scratch, they’ve also learned about local agriculture and nutrition while establishing relationships with peers, chefs, mentors, and local farmers. They’ve developed confidence and learned teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. Perhaps the best thing of all about Jr. Iron Chef VT is how it unifies people. Regardless of other differences, these Vermont youth stand side-by-side for one day in March and participate in an orchestrated frenzy – dicing, grating, and sautéing their way to culinary fame.

School food change takes many players—students, food service, parents, and the community. Jr Iron Chef VT involves all of these players to create a vibrant, fun, and wildly popular event!

Preparations are well underway for the next Jr Iron Chef VT competition. In some districts, Jr Iron Chef VT has become so popular that qualifying competitions are held in the fall to determine who will be among the almost 300 students on the 70 teams participating in our statewide event. Our organizing committee is busy reaching out to new schools, selecting judges, and brainstorming the next great event. We are soliciting financial support to help us usher Jr Iron Chef VT into its second decade. 

Your Support Makes Jr Iron Chef VT Possible.

Yes, I want to support Jr Iron Chef VT today!

Vermont Afterschool, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and contributions are tax deductible. Your gift supports our efforts to increase the quality of and access to afterschool and summer programs in Vermont, as well as to empower youth.