Young Culinary Stars Shine At Community Classroom Project’s Dish It Out! Olympiad
The Community Classroom Project (CCP) recently celebrated the success of its inaugural Dish It Out! Culinary Olympiad — an energetic, real-world competition designed to inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals. The fast-paced, hands-on event brought together local high school students who demonstrated their culinary expertise, creativity, leadership and teamwork — all essential skills for thriving in the restaurant setting.
From mastering mise en place and knife techniques to confidently tackling customer service challenges, the young competitors impressed judges and mentors — including Chef Blake Malatesta of The Wine & Spirits Kitchen and Jimmy Everett of Driftwood — proving they’re ready to take on the pressures of a professional kitchen.
Students from Delray Beach’s Atlantic High School and Space of Mind, Boynton Beach’s SouthTech Preparatory Academy and Boca Raton High School participated in the event. All earned full scholarships to the Community Classroom Kitchen Restaurant Workforce Training Program, launching this summer. The program includes restaurant bootcamps, workshops, apprenticeships and job placement opportunities through CCP’s network of hospitality partners.
“We’re not just teaching kids how to cook — we’re preparing them for real jobs and real futures,” says Ali Kaufman, CCP and Space of Mind founder. “Programs like Dish It Out! are critical to solving the staffing shortage in our local hospitality industry, while giving students purpose, direction and an exciting career path.”
For more information, visit yourccp.org.
Community Classroom Project's Dish It Out!
