Wrap Up With Rice Student Competition Nourishes Minds

TORONTO, CANADA – U.S. brown rice was on the minds and in the hands of Toronto high school students during the 2015 Wrap Up With Rice culinary competition that took place last month at the Loblaws® Cooking School at Maple Leaf Gardens.

USA Rice Director for International Promotion Sarah Moran said, “USA Rice participates in this event as a means to put rice into the hands of culinary educators to familiarize students with U.S.-grown rice, its health benefits, and applicability as a versatile and affordable cooking ingredient.  Inspiring the students and teachers to participate in the competition was r-icing on the cake!”

Three teams of four students each created a brown rice recipe in front of a seven-member judging panel, including media influencers, two of Canada’s top chefs, and key members from both the Toronto District School Board and the Breakfast for Learning charity.  

Moran said, “The students worked well under pressure even as judges and television cameras invaded their work stations.  Selecting a winning team was tough with the first and second place teams’ only two points apart.”

The Grand Prize was awarded to the team from Central Tech Institute for their Fiesta Tomato, Corn, and Rice Soup.  Second place was a Mexican Chicken and Rice Fiesta recipe created by Thistletown Collegiate Institute, and the team from Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute took third with their Cilantro and Lime Brown Rice Steak Wrap.

The Wrap Up With Rice event was part of feed tomorrow, a week-long program dedicated to raising awareness and money to help feed Toronto school children and nourish hungry minds.