Contact: Susan Kirkpatrick
716-866-8002/SKirkpatrick@bnmc-old.local
Local Chefs Compete to Create Healthy School Lunches for Buffalo Farm to School Initiative
Buffalo Bill Thurman Thomas, along with student, chef, farmer and administrator representatives to judge offerings
What: The first-ever Buffalo Farm to School Chef Challenge, a competition to develop new menu ideas for the Buffalo Public School’s Harvest of the Month initiative that introduces and encourages healthy food choices for students.
Local chefs from some of Buffalo’s favorite restaurants and a team of Buffalo Public School students will compete to develop recipes for student lunches that conform to USDA standards and that incorporate local, seasonal food. Participating students have trained with Chef Bobby Anderson, Executive Director of F Bites, a program, which uses culinary instruction as a vehicle to develop leadership, professional skills, college and career readiness. Winning recipes will be highlighted on the December school menu in participating Buffalo Public Schools. Preparation, judging and sampling will be included in the event.
Admission is free and open to parents, staff, students of Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) and some limited public tickets for non-BPS community members. Non-BPS families and community should reserve tickets at: http://bit.ly/2d4cbfD.
Special thanks to the American Dairy Association North East for partnering with the Buffalo Farm to School program on this event.
When: Tuesday, October 4 at 4 PM.
Where: Southside Elementary School at 430 Southside Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14210.
Who: Janet Snyder of Kiss 98.5 will act as Master of Ceremonies and Brian Higgins, U.S. Representative will make short remarks regarding the impact of the Farm to School Program.
Participating Chefs include:
- Bobby Anderson of F Bites
- Clyde Chaplin, Owner of the Wecken Wagen, a German culinary experience; and Baker at The Fire Spot
- Jim Guarino of Oshun and Shango
- Ross Warhol of Oliver’s
Recipes will be prepared on site and judged by a panel including:
- Thurman Thomas, former running back for the Buffalo Bills, advocate for healthy eating and breakfast in the classroom!
- Chef Steven Binks, entrepreneur and “Buffalo’s celebrity Chef”
- Caleb Graham, senior at PS #198 International Prep High School, HYPE member, and Buffalo and Erie County Food Policy Council member
- Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold, President and At-Large-Member of the Buffalo Board of Education
- Daniel Oles, farmer from Promised Land CSA and Oles Family Farm
- Yourlisa Stinson, BPS Food Service Pre-Pack Leader at Early Childhood Center #82
About: The Chef Challenge is part of Buffalo Farm to School, a pilot program for 12 Buffalo Public Schools that have introduced locally grown, seasonal produce to school lunch menus. The program highlights seasonal offerings, encourages student trial and asks for feedback. The Buffalo Farm to School program’s goals are to introduce more fresh, locally grown produce in school lunches and to encourage healthy eating habits in students.
Buffalo Farm to School is an initiative of the Buffalo Public Schools Food Services Department, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC), Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, Grassroots Gardens of WNY and the Massachusetts Avenue Project. For more information go to http://buffalofarmtoschool.org