Oak Grove High School recently hosted one of Mississippi’s three regional “Savor the Flavor of Mississippi” Jr. Chef competitions sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Child Nutrition. The Central Mississippi regional competition consisted of culinary teams from six different school districts – Hattiesburg Public, Jones County, Lamar County, Rankin County, Vicksburg/Warren and Wayne County.
“Smokin’ Hot,” the LCSD culinary team from Oak Grove, won first place in the regional competition and will compete against other regional winners in the state competition on Jan. 23-24, 2019.
The dishes prepared by culinary teams had to meet National School Lunch Program menu guidelines and had to contain at least two “Mississippi Goods” from state farmers.
The Oak Grove team used chicken donated by Sanderson Farms in Laurel, honey donated by Dixie Bee Honey Bee Farm in Hattiesburg and peppers grown by the OGHS Culinary Arts students. The “Smokin’ Hot” team members are Aleiya Luenig-McGee, Vikayla Oatis, Bethanie Pheal, Donovan Reid and Briah Hargrove, alternate.
