The heat was on at the 6th Annual Sunshine Kitchen Cook-Off, held Tuesday, October 27, at the Sunshine Kitchen in Fort Pierce. The annual competition brought together talented culinary students from St. Lucie Public Schools high schools and Indian River State College for an exciting day of creativity, culinary skill, and friendly competition.
This year’s challenge put a delicious spin on the competition: competitors were tasked with creating their own signature sandwich, featuring sirloin generously donated by Adams’ Ranch. In total, 50 pounds of sirloin were donated for the event. A special thank you goes to TCERDA Board Chair Michael L. Adams for helping make this contribution possible and for supporting the next generation of culinary professionals.
Five high school seniors, one representing each SLPS high school with a Culinary Arts program, competed:
- Fort Pierce Central High School: Shawn Gerheart, under the guidance of Chef Jesse Strell and Chef Cindy Swertfager
- Fort Pierce Westwood High School: Kaylani Moore, under the guidance of Chef Jeanne Gray
- Port St. Lucie High School: Darchnie Jean Marie, under the guidance of Chef Kevin Sassano
- St. Lucie West Centennial High School: Camaryn Harmer, under the guidance of Chef Christina Gedke-Balaschak
- Treasure Coast High School: Amiah Joseph, under the guidance of Chef Kristen Fink and Chef Melissa Lombardi
Representing Indian River State College were competitors Julia Grissom and Shiloh Dixon, bringing the field to seven talented competitors.
Chef Jacques Larsen served as Master of Ceremonies, guiding guests through the day’s competition and festivities, as well as recognizing the students, educators, and community partners who make opportunities like the Sunshine Kitchen Cook-Off possible. Superintendent of St. Lucie Public Schools, Dr. Jon Prince, showed his support by addressing the competitors and guests.
Judging the sandwiches for taste and creativity were Chef Pam McNair, Chef Nick Brown of Dailies, and Thomas Miller of the Treasure Coast Foodie Food Blog. Michael McCarthy of St. Lucie Public Schools and Chef Cheryl Levy-Foote served as the Safety & Sanitation judges, evaluating competitors on the professional practices that are essential in the culinary industry.
And the Winners Are…
Treasure Coast High School senior Amiah Joseph earned two of the competition’s top high school honors. Her “Asian Spice Symphony” sandwich captured Best Taste, earning her a $400 scholarship, and she also received the Most Creative award and an additional $400 scholarship.
Fort Pierce Central High School senior Shawn Gerheart earned the Safety & Sanitation award and a $400 scholarship with his “Dreamwich” sandwich.
Fort Pierce Westwood High School senior Kaylani Moore captured the coveted People’s Choice Award with her “Wok n’ Roll” sandwich, earning a $500 scholarship.
In the college division, Indian River State College competitor Julia Grissom was named Overall Winner for “Chef Julia’s Steak Sandwich,” earning a $1,000 scholarship.
The 6th Annual Sunshine Kitchen Cook-Off was more than a culinary competition. It was an opportunity for students to showcase the skills they have developed in their Culinary Arts programs, experience the excitement and pressure of a real-world competition, and connect their classroom learning to the professional culinary industry.
Congratulations to all seven competitors and their Culinary Arts instructors for representing their schools and programs with creativity, professionalism, and skill. The event also would not have been possible without the chefs, judges, educators, community partners, sponsors, and supporters who invested their time and resources into creating a memorable experience for these aspiring culinary professionals.
