MPDBM USBEJUJPO _ paella challenge
Chef John Tamez and MacArthur Culinary Arts Team placed second at last year’s Paella Challenge. (Photo by Frederic Covo)
LOCAL STUDENTS SHINE AT PAELLA CHALLENGE
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BY THOMAS ZAMUDIO
very year, more than 30 chefs participate in Chef Johnny Hernandez’s Paella Challenge, competing for bragging rights for the best paella in the city. While sampling the various creative takes on paella from some of San Antonio’s top chefs is always a treat, the real stars of the show are local high school culinary teams who compete in the H-E-B High School Paella Challenge. Since 2012, local high schools’ culinary teams have had the opportunity to enter this special student competition, hoping to snare First Place for their high school. Last March at the 10th Annual Paella Challenge, the annual benefit started by Chef Hernandez to support his nonprofit, Kitchen Campus, several local high school teams 3
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competed for wonderful prizes. Paella Challenge raises funds for the nonprofit to help young people practice cooking skills and learn techniques to prepare for work in the food industry. Ace-Mart provides the students with professional gear and Chef Johnny Hernandez shared that H-E-B has been a great supporter of the effort. “H-E-B has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the Paella Challenge, specifically being involved in the H-E-B High School Challenge since 2012. Through this partnership, more than 400 San Antonio area high school students compete with their own take on paella and every year they amaze us with their skills and flavors!” H-E-B spokesperson Julie Bedingfield added.
