CHASE High School Team Wins 2026 NC Jr. Chef Competition

A team of student chefs from CHASE High School captured first place in the 2026 NC Jr. Chef Competition, earning top honors for their entrée, “Egg Roll in a Bowl,” during this year’s statewide cook-off.

Competing against five high school finalist teams, the “Gold Standard” team impressed judges with a nutritious twist on a popular favorite. Their winning dish featured savory chicken, crisp North Carolina-grown cabbage, onions and peppers, paired with USDA Foods chicken and long-grain brown rice. The students also showcased advanced knife and presentation skills, serving a North Carolina apple carved into a swan alongside the entrée. The team received a silver medal based on overall scoring.

The annual competition, coordinated by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, challenges students to develop creative school lunch recipes that meet federal nutrition standards while highlighting local agriculture. Recipes must include at least two North Carolina-grown products and one USDA Foods item, be cost-effective and replicable in school nutrition programs statewide.

State Superintendent Maurice 'Mo' Green praised the finalists for their innovation and teamwork.

“This competition provides exposure to future career options and showcases students’ critical thinking, creativity and collaboration skills, as well as technical skills learned in the classroom,” Green said.

To reach the finals, teams submitted detailed applications to the Department of Public Instruction that included nutrient and cost analyses, preparation plans demonstrating the ability to produce the entrée within 90 minutes, and videos of their culinary process. Finalists also participated in virtual interviews with evaluators. Teams were judged on recipe development, food safety, culinary technique, organization, knowledge of nutrition and farm-to-school initiatives, teamwork and presentation skills.

Rachel Findley, senior director for school nutrition at the Department of Public Instruction, said the program gives students firsthand insight into the work behind school meal planning and preparation, while reinforcing the importance of agriculture and nutrition education.

The competition is a joint effort of the Offices of School Nutrition and Career and Technical Education at the Department of Public Instruction, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Farm to School Program, the Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina and the School Nutrition Association of North Carolina.

Finalist teams were recognized during a virtual awards ceremony and received NC Jr. Chef coats, hats, certificates and medals. The top three teams earned plaques for their schools, and the first-place team will display the competition trophy until next year’s cook-off. Members of the top three teams will also receive scholarship opportunities from Sullivan University.

CHASE High’s team will advance to represent North Carolina at the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition in April at Jefferson State Community College.

The NC Jr. Chef Competition is designed to inspire future culinary professionals, promote locally grown agricultural products, increase participation in school nutrition programs and encourage healthy eating habits among students statewide, they said in a statement.