A quartet of culinary creators from Lucerne Valley High School earned a third-place prize at the 5th Annual High Desert Chopped Competition on March 4th at Silverado High School. Seniors Jacob Vaughn and Andrea Garcia, sophomore Dylan Muldoon and freshman Chloe Evans prepared a meal of bone-in pork chop, quinoa and broccolini. The secret ingredient they gave the day of competition was dates.
LVHS competed against eight other cooking classes: Silverado, which fielded two teams, Sultana, Serrano, Barstow, Hesperia Victor High and Apple Valley. Lucerne Valley placed 3rd, Apple placed 2nd and Barstow won 1st place. This was Lucerne Valley’s 4th year competing in this event. The competitors are judged on proper seasoning, preparation speed, mystery ingredients, and plating presentation.
High Desert Chopped was inspired by the TV cooking show “Chopped” and is produced by the Mountain Desert Career Occupational Pathways JPA and culinary arts teachers from the High Desert. Kimberly Evans teaches Lucerne Valley’s award-winning culinary arts class.
The four Lucerne Valley High School culinary arts competitors, from left, Jacob Vaughn, Dylan Muldoon, Andrea Garcia and Chloe Evans in the kitchen.
Chloe Evans sautées an ingredient.
The four Mustangs stand before the judges.
Lucerne Valley's culinarily creative quartet, from left, Jacob Vaughn, Andrea Garcia, Chloe Evans and Dylan Muldoon.
