Students from high schools in the Francis Howell School District will be vying for the gold medal and title of top chef in the inaugural Culinaire Extraordinaire Challenge sponsored by Sodexho.

Five Family and Consumer Science students from each high school will be selected to plan, prepare, and serve a three-course menu consisting of a salad, vegetable, and entrée, for twenty people using only ingredients provided to them. Contestants will have two hours to create their meal and will be judged on taste, nutrition, and presentation.

After being evaluated by the six guest judges, samples of the food will be available for spectators. The event will be held in Francis Howell Central High School’s cafeteria on Friday, December 12, 2008. Students will prepare their meals from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., with presentations and judging at 5:00 p.m. The judges of Culinaire Extraordinaire Challenge will name three winners and will present gold, silver, and bronze medals.