For APEC 2011, The First Lady's Chef In Hawaii Is Ed Kenney

Mrs. Obama has selected an acclaimed local chef to join her for Summit events. And he's got Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's stamp of approval, too... 
UPDATE: A post about the First Lady's farm visit IS HERE; a post about the luncheon IS HERE
Hawaiian chef Ed Kenney is so well known that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner made time to chat with him earlier this week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Honolulu. And Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, a longtime fan, tweeted a photo of Kenney and his crew cooking for an APEC reception. This weekend, First Lady Michelle Obama has invited the chef to be her on-island version of Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass. Kenney will join Mrs. Obama for two of three APEC events she is hosting, which will take place at two very different farms, and spotlight the Let's Move! campaign. (Above: Gov. Abercrombie looks on as Kenney speaks during the APEC reception, held at Washington Place in Honolulu)

President Obama and Mrs. Obama arrive in Honolulu late on Friday night. Neither Kass nor any of the other White House chefs are traveling to Hawaii for Mrs. Obama's events, an East Wing spokesman told Obama Foodorama. APEC events kickoff on Saturday morning; the President's schedule is here.

Like most of the chefs Mrs. Obama has publicly allied herself with, Kenney has a focus on education and policy as well as cooking. His motto is "local first, organic whenever possible, with Aloha always,” and he's the executive chef and owner of two restaurants in Honolulu, Town and Downtown, and he also runs Uptown, a catering operation. Born on island, Kenney trained at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific. He has received much acclaim for his cooking as well as for his commitment to local sourcing and combating food insecurity through his work with MA'O Organic Farms. Both are key elements of Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! campaign.

On Saturday morning, Kenney will join Mrs. Obama as she tours MA'O, a 24.5 acre certified organic farm located in the Waianae area. It's "the largest Native Hawaiian community in the world and one of the most economically challenged communities in the state," according to the East Wing.* Kenney sits on the farm's advisory board, and sources much of the produce he uses for his restaurants from the 35-45 kinds of fruit and vegetables grown on site. The farm also sells to farmers markets and other restaurants on island.

The operation is run by local youth who participate in the Youth Leadership Training internship, which requires three years of work in exchange for a full tuition waiver at a local community college and a monthly stipend. The young agriculturalists will lead the First Lady on her tour. After, she and Kenney will "sit down" with them "for a conversation about youth leadership, engagement and community responsibility as well as access to healthy, affordable food," according to the East Wing.

Pacific Island natives have one of the highest obesity rates of any population, and yes, Hawaii has food deserts. Eradicating food deserts is a pillar of Mrs. Obama's childhood obesity initiative.

On Sunday, Mrs. Obama has invited the twenty spouses of the APEC Leaders to a farm-to-table luncheon that will be held at the Kualoa Ranch, a 4,000-acre working grass-fed cattle operation on protected land, which has breathtaking mountaintop views of the Pacific. Kenney will cook the luncheon, using fresh produce from MA'O. He'll be assisted by the farm's young interns.

Founded in 1850, Kualoa is also a thriving agritourism venue, offering acivities from the mountaintops to the seaside. Its dramatic scenery has been well-used by Hollywood, most notably for "Jurassic Park" and the long-running TV series "Lost." Before the 11:30 AM luncheon, Mrs. Obama will greet each spouse personally in a formal receiving line. During the luncheon they will be entertained with a musical performance by the Honolulu Boys Choir.

The chef meets the Treasury Secretary...
As for Kenney's tete-a-tete with Sec. Geithner? He's given the chef's culinary skills the official stamp of approval ahead of Mrs. Obama's visit. Kenney tweeted about their meeting earlier this week, in the midst of cooking for multiple APEC events. Geithner is a big fan of organic Hawaiian food, apparently. (Above: Geithner speaking at APEC on Thursday)

"Met Sec. Geitner. Seemed truly interested in how business is going. Loved the @maoorganicfarms veggies, @manaii poi, & @KuahiwiRanch beef," Kenney tweeted (sic).

Translated to non-Twitterese, Geithner "loved" the organic vegetables from MA'O, he "loved" grass-fed beef raised on the Big Island, and he "loved" Poi, a traditional Hawaiian dish made from the taro plant, created by a local food artisan. Each is a likely item on Mrs. Obama's luncheon menu, too.

Geithner will not be attending either of Mrs. Obama's events, an East Wing spokesman told Obama Foodorama. He'll be too busy trying to save the global economy. On Saturday evening, the President and Mrs. Obama will host a reception and dinner for APEC Leaders and guests. It will be at the Hale Koa Hotel, which describes itself as a "72-acre tropical oasis fronting the finest stretch of beach in Waikiki." The dinner program includes remarks by Mr. Obama and "cultural performances."

On Sunday, as part of her Joining Forces campaign, Mrs. Obama will meet military families and speak at a hiring fair sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for service men and women, veterans and military families on Hickam Air Force Base.

The President was born in Honolulu--something Gov. Abercrombie himself vowed to prove earlier this year, before Mr. Obama's long-form birth certificate was released. The President also attended school in Honolulu for part of his boyhood. The First Family spends Christmas vacation in the town of Kailua each year, which is located across the island of Oahu from Honolulu.

Mrs. Obama has hosted two previous farm-to-table events for spouses of world leaders. In 2010, she welcomed the spouses of UN General Assembly members to New York's Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture Center, where they took a farm tour and had lunch at Blue Hill resturant, cooked by chef Dan Barber and the White House chefs. During the 2009 Pittsburgh G20 Summit, Mrs. Obama hosted a farm-to-table dinner for spouses at Teresa Heinz Kerry's Rosemont Farm. Both events spotlighted local, organic and sustainably grown ingredients.

*Honolulu Civil Beat disputes the White House assertion that Waianae is "the largest Native Hawaiian community in the world," and says this is "half true."

*Top photo by Ed Morita/Nonstop Honolulu; second by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; third by AP

read more "For APEC 2011, The First Lady's Chef In Hawaii Is Ed Kenney"

First Lady's Schedule For APEC Summit In Hawaii; Visits Organic Farm, Hosts Farm-to-Table Luncheon At Cattle Ranch

During co-hosting duties for the Asia-Pacific Economic Leaders Meeting, Mrs. Obama will bring her signature campaigns to the international stage...
UPDATE: More details about Mrs. Obama's event ARE HERE. The President and Mrs. Obama will host an APEC dinner and reception on Nov. 12. The President's APEC schedule is here.
Later this month, First Lady Michelle Obama will join President Obama in hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Leaders Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, the East Wing announced today.

During her three-day stay on the island of Oahu, beginning on Nov. 12, Mrs. Obama will bring both her Let's Move! and Joining Forces campaigns to the international community, hosting APEC Leaders' spouses for two events designed to "introduce" her signature initiatives, according to the East Wing. Mrs. Obama will also host a farm-to-table luncheon for the spouses at the historic Kualoa Ranch, a massive grass-fed cattle operation that doubles as an agritourism venue. The luncheon has savvy political and economic overtones.

Mrs. Obama's first Let's Move! event on Nov. 12 spotlights farm-to-table sourcing and youth agricultural education, and is at the 24.5-acre certified organic MA’O Organic Farms. The next day, the First Lady's luncheon will take place at the lush, mountaintop Kualoa Ranch, which overlooks the sea. The 4,000-acre working cattle ranch was established in 1850, and is on protected land. Produce from MA’O Organic Farms will be used for the luncheon, and Mrs. Obama has invited chef Ed Kenney of Town restaurant in Honolulu to join her for both events, and mastermind the menu. Kenny is an award-winning chef who is also cooking for other APEC events, including for the Senior Officials Reception.

In September of 2010, Mrs. Obama hosted a farm-to-table luncheon for the spouses of UN Leaders attending the 65th General Assembly (steak was not on the menu). The First Family spends the Christmas holiday on Oahu each year in the town of Kailua; President Obama was born in Honolulu, and attended school there as a boy.

Details of Mrs. Obama's Hawaii Joining Forces event are below.

The First Lady's schedule, per the East Wing:

Saturday, November 12, 2011, 11:30 AM:
First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off her trip with a visit to MA’O Organic Farms located in the Waianae area, the largest Native Hawaiian community in the world and one of the most economically challenged communities in the state. MA’O is a 24.5 acre certified organic farm that grows 35-45 different varieties of produce which they sell to a multitude of restaurants, grocery stores and farmers markets. The farm is primarily run by area youth who participate in the Youth Leadership Training (YLT) internship which requires interns to work for three years and in exchange receive a full tuition waiver at a local community college plus a monthly stipend.

Students will guide the First Lady on a tour of the farm and then sit down with her for a conversation about youth leadership, engagement and community responsibility as well as access to healthy, affordable food. Joining Mrs. Obama will also be Ed Kenney, chef of Town restaurant, who has been a longtime supporter of MA’O Farms, has purchased the majority of his restaurant’s produce from the farm and regularly visited with students. At the First Lady’s request, Chef Kenney will prepare the luncheon meal for APEC Leaders’ spouses on Sunday using local ingredients from MA’O.

Sunday, November 13, 2011, 11:30 AM:
First Lady Michelle Obama will host a special event for the APEC Leaders’ spouses at the historic Kualoa Ranch, a largely preserved and protected 4,000-acre working cattle ranch established in 1850 overlooking the Palikū mountains and the Kualoa beach front. The First Lady will greet each spouse as they arrive to the ranch and invite them to a luncheon featuring local foods prepared by Hawaiian Chef Ed Kenney. Kenney will create a meal from the fresh produce harvested from MA’O farms and with the help of the farm’s young interns. Spouses will also be treated to a musical performance by the Honolulu Boys Choir.

Monday, November 14, 2011, time TBA:
First Lady Michelle Obama will meet military families and speak at a hiring fair sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for service men and women, veterans and military families on Hickam Air Force Base. Since the launch of Joining Forces the Chamber committed to hosting 100 hiring fairs and expanding that number in the next year. To date, 30 Chamber hiring fairs have connected 29,000 veterans with more than 1,000 different employers.
##

*Photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/ObamaFoodorama.com

read more "First Lady's Schedule For APEC Summit In Hawaii; Visits Organic Farm, Hosts Farm-to-Table Luncheon At Cattle Ranch"

Thursday, Florida Trip: First Lady Combines Let's Move! With 2012 Fundraising...Again

3 DNC fundraisers and airport meet n' greets with kids...
First Lady Michelle Obama double-purposed her Tuesday visit to Chicago, working in a fundraiser in Detroit for President Obama's 2012 re-election bid before her appearances associated with the first-ever Let's Move! food desert summit. After the summit, Mrs. Obama attended an evening fundraiser in Chicago. On Thursday, Mrs. Obama will have the same kind of double-duty trip, when she travels to Florida for three more Democratic National Committee fundraisers, and meets kids who are active in the Let's Move! campaign.

Mrs. Obama will not be participating in a Let's Move! event or making an announcement about a new initiative; rather she'll be doing airport meet n' greets with some of the kids who have taken her campaign to heart.

At 11:10 AM, as she arrives in Jacksonville, Florida, Mrs. Obama will be met at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station by a group of students who won the grand prize in the “Cooking up Change” national healthy cooking contest sponsored by the Healthy Schools Campaign and hosted by USDA. The kids, culinary students at the Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology High School, created a recipe for Caribbean-inspired beef rib salad with Moroccan rice and a sweet potato corn bread muffin.

Mrs. Obama, who serves as the Honorary National President of the Girls Scouts, will also meet girls from a local chapter who are involved in healthy eating and physical activity efforts. "The Girl Scouts are in the midst of celebrating their 100th anniversary," noted the East Wing in its announcement.

At 12:00 PM, Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee luncheon in Jacksonville, Fla.

At 2:50 PM, Mrs. Obama will arrive at the Tampa International Airport where she will be greeted by students from John Sexton Elementary School. The school received an award from President Bill Clinton's Alliance for a Healthier Generation for its health and wellness efforts.

The East Wing notes: "The Alliance rewarded the school this year with a Silver National Recognition Award – one of only 5 Florida schools to receive the 2010-2011 award and the only one to receive the silver award. The school was recognized for its efforts to provide healthier snacks in school, replace food-based school fundraisers with healthy alternatives, and improve their physical activity offerings with longer recess times and a running club."

At 3:30 PM, Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee reception in Tampa, Fla.

Mrs. Obama will then travel to Ft. Lauderdale for a third fundraiser.

At 7:00 PM, Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee reception in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

##

read more "Thursday, Florida Trip: First Lady Combines Let's Move! With 2012 Fundraising...Again"

First Lady To Announce New Let's Move! Project

On Thursday, First Lady Michelle Obama will make a major Let’s Move! announcement "related to providing healthier choices and greater variety for families in restaurants," the East Wing said today. Exactly one year ago, Mrs. Obama addressed the National Restaurant Association, and urged the food service industry to dramatically reconsider its practices.

Changing the options in America's eateries has been identified as a major component of Mrs. Obama's childhood obesity initiative because about one of every two dollars spent on food purchases is spent in restaurants, and over 1/3 of calories consumed in America are eaten at restaurants. The Childhood Obesity Task Force Report specifically calls on restaurants to “consider their portion sizes, improve children’s menus, and make healthy options the default choice whenever possible.”

Mrs. Obama's announcement will be made at an event in Hyattsville, MD.

The First Lady's most recent Let's Move event was last week, when she brought her campaign to the US Open in New York, and participated in a junior tennis clinic with tennis legends and US Open competitors. The campaign has a new executive director: Dr. Judith Palfrey, a pediatrician, took up her post on September 6th.

*Photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

read more "First Lady To Announce New Let's Move! Project"

Today: King, McEnroe, Williams Join First Lady

USTA-Let's Move! junior tennis clinic...
UPDATE: The post about the event is here.
First Lady Michelle Obama travels to New York today for a Let's Move! tennis clinic with kids, sponsored by the US Tennis Association. She'll be joined by tennis legends and US Open Players: Billie Jean King; Serena Williams; John McEnroe; James Blake; Katrina Adams and MaliVai Washington. The event will be at the USTA's showcase Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. King is a member of President Obama's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, and he awarded her the Medal of Freedom in 2009 (above). Click here to read about USTA's major support for the Let's Move! campaign.

read more "Today: King, McEnroe, Williams Join First Lady"

Kass Gives Update On "Chefs Move to Schools"

Now entering its second year, the program has paired thousands of professional chefs with public schools...

By President Obama's proclamation, September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Thanks to the work of First Lady Obama with the Let's Move! campaign, as America's kids head back to school this month, thousands will be seeing healthier foods in their cafeterias. In addition to changes that are a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010, the Chefs Move to Schools project is now well established. Launched by Mrs. Obama in June of 2010, the program matches volunteer professional chefs with their local public schools. It has hit a new benchmark, according to Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass (above).

"We have 2,700 chefs and 2,500 schools that have signed up already, and hopefully we'll continue to grow," Kass told Nation's Restaurant News. "They're trying to support the great work that's already going on."

NRN is a publication for culinary professionals, and in a video interview with reporter Ron Ruggless, Kass, the mastermind behind Chefs Move, discusses how professional chefs can help get children interested in eating healthier foods. He traveled the US this year speaking about Let's Move! and wooing culinary profs to join the program: Kass visited San Diego, California; and New Orleans, LA; and New York city--numerous times; and Dallas, Texas, among other places. (Above: A map showing chef and school matches across the US)

"Working with the food service professionals, starting with the Director of Food Service, is a great place to start," Kass said about how culinary pros can participate with Chefs Move. The program is coordinated by USDA; more information is here.



Kass also discusses school and community gardens, and how to empower both children and parents to make healthier choices.

"The First Lady has seen time and time again how simple engagement of kids in the process of what to eat...really opens their minds," Kass said.

Mrs. Obama first urged America's food service professionals to join her campaign with an address to the leaders of the National Restaurant Association in Fall of 2010.

*Photo and video by Ron Ruggless of Nation's Restaurant News, with thanks.

read more "Kass Gives Update On "Chefs Move to Schools""

Sam Kass Honored With "Cutting Edge Award"

American Culinary Federation lauds Kass for his work on child nutrition initiatives...
White House Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass has a new feather for his toque: This week, he was honored with the Cutting Edge Award from the American Culinary Federation. President Michael Ty presented Kass with the award on Sunday night during a gala at the organization's annual National Convention, held in Dallas, Texas. Ty hailed Kass' work on child nutrition initiatives as he gave the award, which is a symbolic knife. (Above: Kass and Ty with the award)

On Monday, Kass gave the keynote speech to the group, and spoke about First Lady Obama's Let's Move! campaign.  He also served as the emcee and a judge for the national cookoff for Mrs. Obama's Recipes for Healthy Kids Challenge, a contest for school teams to create recipes for the National School Lunch Program. (Kass during his remarks, above)

“Our nation is spending $150 billion a year on treating obesity-related diseases, and obesity is now the No. 1 disqualification for the military,” Kass said. “Our success as a nation will not be successful without the help of chefs.”

Kass is the mastermind behind the Let's Move! component Chefs Move to Schools, which marries professional chefs to their local schools, and encouraged the chefs to get involved, as well as adopt USDA's MyPlate icon as a guide for their meals. Many ACF chefs have signed on for Chefs Move, and members from regional chapters shared their success stories after Kass' keynote. Kass has spent much time lately spreading the word about MyPlate.

Kass' award presentation and a brief interview with him begins at 2:04 in this ACF video from the Convention:


*Videos and photos from American Culinary Federation

read more "Sam Kass Honored With "Cutting Edge Award""

Obama Talks Burgers, Fries, and Let's Move!

President explains First Lady's campaign; defends her dining excursions; hopes for birthday burger...
President Obama did a phone interview with NPR at the end of last week to discuss the debt ceiling negotiations. But Michael Martin, host of Tell Me More, took a big swerve from economic imperatives, and asked questions about the heady topic of the President and First Lady's predilection for hamburgers and French fries, a subject of global interest.

NPR just posted the full, unedited text of the interview, which reveals that the President worked in an exquisitely on-point discussion of Let's Move!, touted the wonders of White House fries, and expressed a foodie birthday wish for his rapidly approaching 50th on August 4th. (Left: The President carries bags from Five Guys into the White House in 2009; burger runs have been going on since the Obamas arrived in DC)

On Shake Shack and Let's Move...
First Lady Obama's recent visit to DC's Shack Shack garnered her international headlines after it was reported that her order of a ShackBurger, chocolate shake, French fries, and Diet Coke amounted to about 1,700 calories. It's also led to citizens being able to walk into the eatery and and order, off menu, "The Michelle Obama Special." Martin asked the President if he believes the media criticism over the burger outing, in light of Let's Move!, was "fair" or "out of bounds."

Although the First Lady is running a national campaign that coordinates the anti-obesity efforts of twelve federal agencies, President Obama responded that his wife's food choices should be "a non-issue," and added that Mrs. Obama doesn't particularly care what the media thinks, anyway. The President's lengthy response included mentioning the impressive private sector commitments Mrs. Obama has gotten to make healthy food more accessible, the importance of healthy school meals, and empowering families to make better food choices:

"Michelle doesn't take that [criticism] too seriously. Michelle knows that – well, let me put it this way. Michelle's never hid the fact that her favorite food is french fries, or that she's going to have a burger once in a while. The whole point that she's been making — which is common sense, and so this should be a non-issue — is how do we make sure that our kids, in particular, have balanced meals on a regular basis?

Because it'll make them healthier; it'll make them do better in school; and it forms lifelong habits that will improve their quality of life. And you know, I think that she has been adamant about saying that there's nothing wrong with having a treat once in a while. There's nothing wrong with going ahead and having a milkshake or a piece of pie, or whatever else you crave.

The question is, what — what is it that on a regular basis you're doing, and what can we do as a society to make sure that, for example, folks in low-income communities have access to a grocery store that actually sells fresh – fresh produce?

And in fact, she — they did a wonderful announcement yesterday talking about food deserts, communities where you cannot – you know, in any reasonable way find fresh and healthy foods and if you do find it, then the prices are jacked up in those communities. And there was an announcement, cooperation from a whole bunch of retailers all across the country. They're going to – they're going to start building new stores that will not only create jobs but also give people healthier options.

And that's what this is all about- - empowering people to have better options so that they can make better decisions for their family. It's not about people not having a hamburger once in a while."

After the President's long answer, Martin pressed him further on Shake Shack, wanting to know if Mrs. Obama had ordered the sweet potato fries or the regular fries.

"You know, she likes both, actually," President Obama said, and added "and you should try them in the White House, too, because sometimes we make them, and they're outstanding."

"We're sweet potato lovers," Mrs. Obama announced last Fall, as she harvested four-pounders from her White House Kitchen Garden.

A birthday burger for the "cute" President?
To wrap up the interview, Martin asked how both the President and Mrs. Obama feel about the President's big half-century birthday.

"You know, I feel real good about 5-0. The – obviously, I've gotten a little grayer since I took this job but otherwise, I feel pretty good," President Obama said. "And Michelle, you know, says that, you know, she – she — she still thinks I'm, I'm cute, you know. And I guess that's — that's all that matters, isn't it?"

When asked by Martin what special gift he'd like, President Obama said a hamburger might be a nice idea.

"You know, maybe I'll have a good hamburger on my birthday," President Obama said, though the meaty wish came after the President noted that the best present of all would be a debt ceiling deal with Congress.

"That's kind of sad, I know," the President admitted.

Edited versions of the President's NPR interview first appeared on July 22.

*Top and Shake Shack photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; Five Guys photo by Chuck Kennedy/White House; last photo by Pete Souza/White House

read more "Obama Talks Burgers, Fries, and Let's Move!"

Minnesota Team Wins Top Prize In First Lady's 'Recipes For Healthy Kids Challenge'

Turkey burgers win school lunch recipe contest...
After a heated culinary battle on Monday in Dallas, Texas, the team from Intermediate District 287, South Education Center Alternative (SECA), of Richfield, Minn, was named the grand champions in First lady Michelle Obama's Recipes For Healthy Kids Challenge, a nationwide competition launched last September as part of the Let's Move! campaign. SECA competed during an Iron Chef-style battle at the American Culinary Federation National Convention, and their Porcupine Sliders--healthy mini turkey burgers served on multi-grain buns--were dubbed best in show by a judging team that included White House Senior Policy Advisor for healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass (above) and USDA's Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Audrey Rowe.

Kass served as Master of Ceremonies for the cookoff, treating audience members to a chop-by-chop account of the cooking action, as SECA and two other teams competed for the Grand Prize: $3,000.00 and a trip to the White House.

"This is exactly what the First Lady was hoping for, to create healthy dishes the kids are going to like," Kass said. "And these dishes were great. I would eat all of them any day."

Kass said changing childrens' eating habits will take time but the Challenge is great for raising awareness about childhood obesity, and a sign that Mrs. Obama's campaign is working, though more work needs to be done.

"The First Lady knows we're on the right path to solving this problem," Kass said. "It took decades to get here; it'll take decades to get out."

“All of the schools that participated in the competition have demonstrated once again that school meals can be healthy – and taste great too,” said Rowe. “This is an outstanding achievement for our kids and for our efforts to bring healthier meals and healthier lifestyles to schools across the nation.”

Awards were presented Monday evening at a special ceremony. The eight-member SECA team includes Theresa Guthrie, a teacher at the school; Wanda Nickola, the district's food service manager; chef Todd Bolton of Parasole restaurant in Edina, Minn.; Mary Lair, the school nurse; and students identified as Adilene D., Chris D., Dominic L., and Dolores P. The recipe is packed with nutritious elements: The turkey patties are made with spinach, dried cranberries and brown rice, and served on toasted multigrain rolls with lettuce and tomato. The recipe was dubbed the national finalist in the whole grains category of the competition. Chef Bolton has a son who attends the school. (Above: The Porcupine Sliders)

The team had one hour and 45 minutes to prepare their recipe during the competition, and won over the two other national finalist teams: Ira B. Jones Elementary School, from Asheville, N.C., which competed with Tuscan Smoked Turkey & Bean Soup; and Joshua Cowell School in Manteca, CA, competing with Central Valley Harvest Bake, a sweet and spicy dish made with Butternut squash and jalapeno peppers. Each team had to win a semi-final round to get to the Dallas cookoff.

USDA received more than 300 recipes entries for the Challenge, and the school-based teams of students and adults had to use USDA's new nutrition guidelines for the National School Lunch Program when creating their dishes; recipes had to be able to be easily incorporated into school lunch menus across the US.

The three teams' recipes, as well as as the top ten recipes in the Challenge, will have their entries published in the forthcoming Recipes for Healthy Kids Cookbook. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the finalists in June.

*Photo by Eddie Eehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

read more "Minnesota Team Wins Top Prize In First Lady's 'Recipes For Healthy Kids Challenge'"