Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Oak Chef- an Unforgettable Journey of Taste and Talent


Oak Chef has been the topic of every classroom discussion in sixth grade since its announcement! The morning of the competition, classrooms smelt of vegetables and dressing from baskets and bags all over sixth grade. Though disappointed when told only two teams of our from each class could go through to the final, we began to work fast so as to be able to present our salads within the half hour limit- from dessert-like fruit salads with chocolate sauce and blueberries to pasta and khous-khous salads, we all gave our best and used all of our knowledge in combining various recipes, and thought for ages on how to present our salads, displaying our beloved profiles of ‘Knowledgeable’ and ‘Thinker’.

As told to us, our time management skills, integrity- not copying another’s ideas- and of course our everlasting enthusiasm and commitment were greatly important in this competition. Presentation was beautiful- some bright, some subtle, some large, some tiny-but all wonderful and very creative   in their own way- teaching us to be open minded to all ideas, and a way of being communicators and showing our personalities,  reflecting the proverb- ‘What a man cooks tells us a lot of who he is.’

I’m sure the judges had a tough decision on whom to send through to the finals, but the decision had to be taken. We waited confidently but in tension- we all dearly wanted to get through! When the results were announced, there were both radiant and sad faces- but everyone felt happy at the thought of their friends winning, and cheered their classmates that were through to the finals. Slowly, plates, mats and platters full of sauces, dressings, salads and side dishes began appearing at the tables arranged along the corridor, full of people appreciating each other, co-operating with each other but, still, wondering and waiting and hoping to win.

Cooking anything, especially something healthy like a salad, shows a lot of care- to those whom we make it for, for not only are salads good for the body, but taste good, too!
Anxious chefs adjusted little components and added finishing touches as the judges strolled down the rows of salads, asking questions and tasting the delicately arranged dishes that were indeed all ‘Master Chef-worthy’!

As the contestants reflected on their dishes- reflective being  a profile I think imbibed in possibly every Oakridger- there was, even now, excitement in the air.
However there can only be one winner- and we still wait in curiosity for the final 2012 ‘Oak Chefs’!


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