Looking for new menu and recipe ideas? Make sure you mosey on over to the Culinary Demonstration area during the ANC Exhibit Hall hours, where six professional chefs will russell up meals that are sure to capture the attention of your students and provide healthy menu solutions.

This year, there will be six demonstrations offered during the conference. They are:

• USDA: Chef Brad Trudeau will feature recipes with a Southwestern Flair
• Pierre Foods: Chef Jimmy Gherardi will feature recipes from their Better For You to Smart Picks
• MARS Foodservice: Chef Chris Skulmutch will feature recipes using Uncle Ben’s Flavored Rice Product line (whole grain brown rice)
• Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission: Chef Tom Nixon will highlight the versatility of berry use, from baked items to healthy deserts
• PepsiCo Foodservice: Chef Stephen Kalil will prepare the winning submission in the “Meal in a Bag” Recipe Contest
• Sunkist Foodservice: Chef Cyndie Story will turn fresh produce into affordable healthy school meal options

Each demo will last about 45 minutes, so there’s still plenty of time to go to all the exhibits. So whether you take in one or all of the Culinary Demonstrations, you’re sure to ride off with some great new ideas!

Got any winning culinary techniques or tips of your own? Share them with your peers in the comments section!

Need fresh ideas for incorporating exciting farm-to-school initiatives into your school meals program? If the answer is yes, you won't want to miss the ANC education session, “Big Ideas for Farm to School.” During this session, Tony Geraci, Director of Food Services for Baltimore City (Md.) Public Schools will show you how it is possible to bring fresh, locally grown and sustainable produce to your school. He should know since he envisioned and brought to fruition the Great Kids Farm, a self-supported farm located in Catonsville, Md., that is a source of fresh, locally grown produce for Baltimore City schools. The 33-acre farm also serves as a valuable teaching tool, showing students the whole process, from farm to plate.  

Come learn from his experiences on how to get kids excited about the harvests of their own greenhouses and working farms! The “Big Ideas for Farm to School” session will take place Tuesday, July 13. Be sure to refer to the onsite ANC Program Guide for additional details and the location of this session in the Dallas Convention Center.

Will you be attending this education session packed with wholesome goodness?