Iron Chefs have nothing on Long Branch students

By Patty Booth O’Neill

If the Food Network is looking for a new series, they should have been checking out the Long Branch Middle School, Thurdsay, Jan 14. Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Chef Masaharu Morimoto and the like should watch out because they have competition coming up the ranks.

The Iron Chef event was sponsored by Sodexo, and organized by Nawal Maroun, who is site manager for Sodexo. “Nawal did an amazing job of organizing this event,” Superintendent Mike Salvatore said to the packed crowd mostly consisting of proud parents. “We have some great chefs here!”

He went on to thank the guest judges, who, lets face it did not have such a terrible  job. But they admitted it was difficult to pick a winner.

Judges were Board of Education member James Parnell; Chef Chris Burnett, 1999 graduate of Long Branch High School and now a chef at Sickles Market; chef Michael Schmitt  from Sodexo; Yankee pitcher CC Sabathia’s personal chef J Maxwell and, (because he volunteered) CC Sabathia, to the delight of the students and those attending.

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Four teams of four ambitious middle school chefs prepared dishes in their stations set up in the school cafeteria. Each team had to prepare a dish in their appointed category; best salad, best entree, best presentation, team spirit and people’s choice.

Mike Salvatore commentated and interviewed students as they prepared their dishes. The chefs answered like pros, not missing a beat or an ingredient. When reading from students’ applications on why they decided to be in the competition some answers were simple, “because I like to cook,”  or, “I saw the flyer at school and decided to sign up.”

Whatever their reasons the kids cooked like pros and finished all their dishes, and when Salvatore called time, the chefs stopped and put their hands up to signify that they were done, and they were proud.

Each team presented their dish to the judges, watching  over every bite and reaction with nervous anticipation. “This is delicious,” commented Chef Maxwell tasting a dish.”This chicken is done very well.”

“I especially like this pudding,” said Chef Jerome during the dessert round. “I can’t get enough of it.”

Sabathia also seemed to enjoy his dishes as they were set before him. He was a good sport about the whole thing and was never put out by all the selfie requests.

Winners of each category were announced, then the teams filed by Sabathia, who placed a medal around their neck. Every chef earned a medal for their delicious dishes.

“We would like to thank everyone for the wonderful  job they did,” Salvatore said at the end of the night. “And special thanks to the judges.”

Names and winning teams will be announced on the Long Branch School Facebook page on Tuesday, and will be announced in The LINK News.