On April 6, Durham College (DC) welcomed 12 teams of Grade 11 and 12 students to the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF) and challenged them to put their culinary skills and original recipes to the test at the fifth annual Epic Mac ‘n’ Cheese Competition.

Organized by CFF chef Peter Lee and Gillian Pope, a student in DC’s Culinary Management program, the event provided a unique hands-on learning opportunity for food-focused high school students, giving them a chance to compete for a bursary towards studying in a culinary program at DC.

After watching the live-cooking action, guests were invited to sample the entrants’ recipes and vote for their favourite. First-place honours went to Lucas Fong and Kyra Maldonado of Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School in Oshawa for their apple and duck confit mac and cheese recipe. Hazel Lambinicio and Carlos Ayao from the same school whipped up a “Hog Wild” recipe with pulled pork, bacon, red pepper and cheddar and tied for second place with Ethan Taylor and Jessica Pearcy from St Peter’s Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough whose “Taste of Aphrodite” mac and cheese wooed the judges with its roasted pepper, tomato, arugula, chorizo, feta and duck kielbasa toppings.

Thanks to all of the event’s sponsors – Canada Cutlery Inc., Selbie Produce, Sysco and The Butcher Shoppe – and congratulations to all of the competitors and winners!