Five Neenah High School students had the opportunity to "Cook Around the World" as they participated in Disney’s seventh annual high school culinary competition on April 27 in Orlando.
The Cook Around the World event was held at EPCOT Center as students had the chance to learn alongside other competitors from about 60 schools around the country from local university professors and celebrity chef Damaris Phillips, who won season 9 of Food Network Star.
Neenah students who participated were Rachael Luebker, Madelynn Hendriks, Nikki Messick, Katie Berger and Brooklyn Marion. They teamed with five students from Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Wash. to form a 10-person team.
Each team was assigned a different cultural cuisine about a month before the culinary improv competition and then given 90 minutes to prepare two entrees with sides and decorate cupcakes for 20 people. The Neenah students were assigned an Asian dish and prepared a green chicken curry entrée and coconut shrimp with Asian slaw. Following the competition, all of the students were honored at an awards ceremony and international gala dinner at EPCOT with a private fireworks show.
Neenah High School teacher Debra Garbe led the group. The students paid their own way for the experience with fundraising throughout the school year. Neenah was one of two Wisconsin schools to participate in the invitation event along with Green Bay Preble. |