The sixth annual P.E.I. Women’s Institute cooking contest for intermediate and high school students took place recently to promote cooking by using P.E.I. products.
Students in grades 7 through 12 from across the province were invited to send recipes containing three agriculture- or fishery-based ingredients. Categories included appetizers, soups, main dish and sweets. Top entries in those categories were selected to prepare their recipe in a cook-off on Jan. 22 at the Milton Community Hall.
Cash prizes of $250, $100 and $50 were awarded in each of the sections.
Following are the winning students: appetizers – 1. Olivia Lewis Charlottetown Rural High School, 2. Kirstin Bryanton, Kinkora Regional High School, 3. - Colten Dougay, Kinkora Regional High School; soups – 1. Percy Affleck, Kinkora Regional High School, 2. Alayna Trenholm, Evan Hume, Kes Sabine, Reaghlene Clow, Parker Arsenault, Three Oaks Senior High School, 3. Breahanna Callaghan, Montague Regional High School; main course – 1. Colby Buch, Kinkora Regional High School, 2. Genevieve Roach, East Wiltshire Intermediate School; 3. Lydia Hamill, Kinkora Regional High School; sweets – 1. Matthew Murphy, Kinkora Regional High School, 2. Alex Gaudet, Kinkora Regional High School.
“We have a rich province of food items, and it is so rewarding to see these students actively pursuing their cooking interests with ingredients from local resources."
- Ann MacDonald
“We have a rich province of food items, and it is so rewarding to see these students actively pursuing their cooking interests with ingredients from local resources,” said P.E.I. Women’s Institute board member and provincial agriculture convener Ann MacDonald in highlighting the use of local products.
One of the schools representing several winners included food 421 instructor Jessica Reeves from Kinkora Regional High School. Reeves said her “students discovered the variety of agricultural products grown and raised on P.E.I. by participating and have realized the importance of supporting local and knowing where their food is coming come."
The team of judges was led by celebrity chef Michael Smith and included chef Tanya Kelly from the Inn at Bay Fortune and MaryJane MacPhee of P.E.I. 4-H.
“I’m always thrilled to see kids in the kitchen and applaud the Woman’s Institute for continuing to lead the way with this initiative,” said Smith.
Premier Dennis King was on hand to assist Smith in presenting the prizes.
Smith also presented Colby Buch with a special prize for her P.E.I. Potato Stir Fry. She received a signed copy of his latest book. She is in Grade 10 at Kinkora Regional High School.
The WI Island Product Cooking Contest is organized by the provincial board of Prince Edward Island Women’s Institute and sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and Land.
