OConnell Student National Future Chefs Finalist
O'Connell Student Selected as National Future Chefs Challenge Finalist
Posted on 05/01/2025
East Hartford's Future Chefs Challenge winner is a top 5 national finalist!
Josie Tedesco, a 5th grade student at O'Connell Elementary, won the EHPS Future Chefs cook off in March. She then advanced to the regional judging round and her "Yummy Yogurt Bowl" recipe was chosen as a regional winner.
Now, she's one of 5 national finalists competing to be the 2025 Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge Winner. Public voting is open from May 1-May 9.
Click here to view Josie's recipe video and to cast your vote!
East Hartford held its 15th annual Sodexo Future Chef Competition on March 20. Three finalists competed in the cook off after submitting their favorite fruit or vegetable recipe for consideration.
Josie said she created her winning "Yummy Yogurt Bowl" recipe because, "it has all my favorite foods in it and I wanted other people to try it."
Goodwin 3rd Grader James Kearns was a finalist with his James’ Kindness Fruit Kebabs, along with Goodwin 5th Grader Elizabeth Saucier who made Celery Butterflies.
During the cook off, East Hartford High School culinary students assisted the elementary chefs with preparation and plating. A panel of four judges scored each dish in several categories including originality, ease of preparation, healthy attributes, and taste.
As the grand prize winner, Josie advanced in the competition and won an iPad. and advanced in the competition. will now move on to the regional competition with winners from Sodexo’s other K-12 school programs in the area. All of the finalists took home Fitbits, cookbooks, and cooking supplies for their hard work.