Eric loved the idea of participating in a regional cooking competition.

“I thought this was a really great idea because I thought this would be fun and I was very looking forward to being one of the best chefs in Ontario,” he said.

The judges gave top honours to the boys because they were neat, their dish was quick, they worked well as a team and they chose several local ingredients which they picked up at the downtown farmers’ market in Newmarket, Eric said.

When he’s not making sushi, Eric said his favourite dish to make is a hamburger sandwich, a hamburger on bread instead of a bun.

Brendan, who likes barbecuing, said the competition was a good learning experience and helped foster a sense of teamwork.

He said the judges liked their dish because it didn’t require any cooking and it included eggs and avocado, which are good fats and protein.

Kenny, whose dad Hai organized the team, said the competition was fun and he was surprised to bring home first place.

You’re the Chef Cook-off is one of several food-learning programs in the region that promotes the importance of cooking simple, healthy and fresh meals made from local ingredients, said medical officer of health, Dr. Karim Kurji.

“Learning to cook at a young age helps children grow into healthy, independent adults,” he said.

“You’re the Chef encourages children to be creative in the kitchen, experiment with locally-grown vegetables and fruits and build their self-esteem and confidence.”



