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Six Chefs to Watch For; They’ll Cook for You Someday
The Judge's Choice winner: Taylor Simpson's Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Six Chefs to Watch For; They’ll Cook for You Someday

BOYERTOWN PA – Move over, Clare Smyth. Six Boyertown Area School District elementary student chefs seem ready, someday in the future, to make your stove their own.

Six Chefs to Watch For; They’ll Cook for You Someday
Judges’ Choice winner Taylor Simpson (who also earned the Voters’ Choice
2nd place honor), left, and People’s Vote 1st place winner Grace Montanaro
Six Chefs to Watch For; They’ll Cook for You Someday
Rounding out the Kids Celebrity Chef 2024 competition were, from left, finalists Noel Bealer (Voter’s Choice 3rd place), Sonya Hall (4th place), and Owen McHugh and Ryker Leofsky (honorable mentions)

Smyth is among the few women chefs to earn three Michelin stars, one of the most prestigious honors available in the culinary universe. Right now she’s a half-world away from Berks County, operating her Michelin-favored “Core by Clare Smyth” restaurant in London.

The student chefs, on the other hand, assembled Saturday (March 16, 2024) inside Boyertown High School to display their talents and compete for the title of “Kids Celebrity Chef 2024.” It’s likely few of them, if any, know who Smyth is. But, reportedly like her, all appeared prepared for competition with steely gleams in their eyes and delicious samples to draw a crowd.

The finalists, listed as their names appeared in the Wellness Fair program, include:

  • Noel Bealer, a third-grader at Earl Elementary, who prepared a dish called “Mama’s Pastina;”
  • Taylor Simpson, first-grader at New Hanover-Upper Frederick Elementary, “Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins;”
  • Owen McHugh, second-grader at New Hanover-Upper Frederick, “Mushroom & Spinach Quiche Cups;”
  • Sonya Hall, fourth-grader at Gilbertsville Elementary, “General Tso’s Soy Curls Stir Fry;”
  • Grace Montanaro, first-grader at Gilbertsville, “Mama Mia Veggie Ball Poppers;” and
  • Ryker Leofsky, second-grader at Colebrookdale Elementary, “Dino-Rific Margherita Pizza.”

The Celebrity Chef contest is one of several popular features at the fair, presented annually for the past 17 years by the Wellness Council of Boyertown. The council is a program of Boyertown Area Multi Service Inc., the non-profit social service agency that assists residents of the school district as well as Amity, District, Hereford, Pike, and Oley townships.

Its panel of judges apparently knew their way around a kitchen too. The group consisted of Boyertown Mayor Lori Carnes; Dr. Jack Lignelli of the Boyertown Area Multi Service board of directors; Linda Lignelli, retired board member of the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation; Chris Mest, executive chef at The Center at Spring Street; Karen Parks, sous chef at the center; Michael Stoudt, the school district’s assistant superintendent; Keith Kopicki, owner of Grind Restaurant; and Grind’s executive chef, Sam Birchall.

And the winners are …

The judges met the chefs, inhaled tempting aromas, and tasted the fruits of their labors. So, too, did members of the visiting public, who weighed in with their own decisions. The visitors occasionally filled several tables located near the chefs, allowing diners to take their time and savor every bite offered.

By Saturday at around 12:30 p.m., the contest winners were announced. Taylor’s muffins captured the judges’ choice honor, and Grace’s veggie ball poppers won first place in the public voting. Taylor placed second in the public vote, Noel’s pastina won third place, Sonya’s stir fry took fourth place, and both Owen’s quiche cups and Ryker’s pizza earned honorable mentions.

Throughout the fair each contestant could be seen on their feet, smiling and chatting with visitors, and explaining how their treats were made. In conversations overheard, every student appeared to talk with their guests just as Clare Smyth would … as though they were already professionals.

Photos by Travels With The Post