Third place winner Everett Allard of Polo Park Middle School.
Photos by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Wellington’s Everett Allard of Polo Park Middle School finished third out of nearly 300 entries in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ 2022 Lunchroom Wars, the state’s official student chef cook-off.
Lunchroom Wars logo.
The three finalists progressed to the finale, where they cooked in front of three guest judges.
Everett made his Macadamia Crusted Florida Snapper Pineapple Boat. He incorporated guava and Florida citrus, as well as fresh herbs and spices. The other finalists were Juliet Karsak of Melbourne, who won, and Emmersyn Smith of Lakeland, who was second.
Everett's finale dish, Macadamia Crusted Florida Snapper Pineapple Boat.
The student chefs faced off at the Epicurean Hotel in Tampa. They had to feature Florida commodities, and all three created locally inspired dishes.
The judges were chef and social media foodie Dorothy Content; 2021 Lunchroom Wars winner Isaiah Romeo; and Shani Hall, the general manager of student nutrition services for Hillsborough schools.
Everett Allard of Polo Park Middle School making his Macadamia Crusted Florida Snapper Pineapple Boat.
Presenting sponsor Humana and Humana Healthy Horizons in Florida provided a $5,000 Florida 529 Savings Plan college scholarship for the winner, a $3,000 scholarship for second and a $2,000 scholarship for Everett in third. They finalists also received desserts from Bern’s Steakhouse and a family pizza party from Colony Grill.
“It was such an honor to have these incredible student chefs together in one kitchen,” says Jeremy Eason, the outreach director in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Nutrition, Education and Wellness. “We hope this competition leaves them with excitement and everlasting memories. Thank you to everyone involved, and we are already excited for next year.”
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