58 Student Teams to Compete in Jr. Iron Chef VT

Young chefs are testing their culinary skills in the ninth annual Jr. Iron Chef VT Competition in Essex Junction, Vermont this weekend.

Fifty-eight middle and high school teams from around Vermont will compete in the daylong event on Saturday at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction.

The teams are guided by coaches including local chefs and food service directors. The teams will have 90 minutes to prepare their original recipes using seasonal foods.

The judges' panel includes a state representative, a cookbook author, a student, and others. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy will hand out awards to winning teams.

Those teams will get a chance to prepare their dishes for legislators at the Vermont Statehouse. Their entrees will also appear on school lunch menus around the state.