For the second year in a row, Argo High School’s culinary arts students impressed judges during the PepsiCo food challenge.
Culinary Arts Instructor Erica Swanson explained the end of year event.
“This was our second year partnering with PepsiCo in a culinary competition. I worked closely with Madi Guest, a People Business Partner and Associate Manager for Quaker Supply Chain at the Bridgeview Frito Lay facility, to design the entire program,” she said.
“It started with a tour of the Bridgeview production facility so students could understand the company and its operations. Then they conducted research and development to create an original dish using a PepsiCo product,” she added.
Swanson explained the competition.
“Fourteen students competed in seven teams of two. They could choose from Near East products — original rice pilaf, parmesan couscous, or Mediterranean curry couscous — or Quaker instant oatmeal cups in apple cinnamon or maple brown sugar. There were no assigned dishes. Students had to think creatively.”
One team made teriyaki salmon arancini using the rice pilaf. Another used maple brown sugar oatmeal as a crust for cheesecake.
Argo administrators, staff members, and PepsiCo employees judged and tasted the entries.
Swanson said the response was enthusiastic, and they’re now planning to expand the competition and deepen their partnership.
This year’s winners were senior Jasmine Marquez and junior Medinah Yusef.
Marquez said it was good experience.
“In the beginning, it was stressful to have everything ready, prepared, and plated. Once I had all that over, I started to have fun and enjoyed the competition.”
“I made spicy chicken sliders with a house sauce and homemade pickles with my partner. We used the Near East Rice Pilaf as our PepsiCo product. We ground it in a food processor, added seasoning, and used it to bread the chicken.”
Marquez has considered going into teaching culinary arts.
PepsiCo has committed to a three-year grant of $5,000 per year for culinary scholarships, with support from Armando Saleh, Director of Government Affairs at PepsiCo. The scholarships began last academic year.
Dual Credit Culinary Arts 3 is the highest class in the sequence for technical classes.
“However,” said Swanson, “Argo does offer two capstone classes for the culinary pathway. Career internship, which allows for students to leave Argo early to work in a restaurant for credit. We also offer Independent Study, where a student works in conjunction with myself in a lower-level class to learn about leadership and what it’s like to be a Family and Consumer Sciences Instructor.
“I’m excited to be bringing an additional Dual Credit option for the course next year.”