High School Culinary Students Take on the Heat in Aramark Student Nutrition’s Annual Culinary Star Competition

The heat was on at Middleby Innovation Kitchens in Lewisville, Texas, as 33 high school culinary students representing 11 Aramark Student Nutrition partner school districts across Texas and Arkansas put their skills to the test in this year’s Culinary Star Competition.

Working against the clock, student teams transformed classroom instruction into real‑world execution: planning, cooking, plating, and presenting their dishes in a fast‑paced, professional test-kitchen environment.

This year’s winning team, Team Cuisine from Sealy ISD, stood out for their exceptional technique, balanced flavors, and polished presentation. Their performance earned them a $3,000 scholarship, provided by Chrane Foodservice Solutions and Mod U Serve, helping support their continued culinary education.

1st Runner-Up: Northwest ISD
2nd Runner-Up: Clint ISD
Trailblazer Taste Award: Round Rock ISD
Dream Team Award: Northwest ISD
Mise en Place Award: Goose Creek CISD
Precision in Motion: Clint ISD
Visual Feast Award: Sealy ISD

This year's Culinary Star winning team: Team Cuisine from Sealy ISD. — This year's Culinary Star winning team: Team Cuisine from Sealy ISD

Chefs judging student dishes. — Senior Executive Chef Laura McMann, left, participates in the judging of student dishes during the competition alongside two other chefs.

“Serving as a judge at this year’s Culinary Star competition was a meaningful opportunity to see firsthand the remarkable culinary talent emerging across the South,” said Aramark Student Nutrition Senior Executive Chef Laura McMann. “I was truly impressed with the level of culinary skill. The students were well versed in technique and terminology and conducted themselves in a very professional manner, some true leaders in development. The culinary world has a bright future!”

The 2025–2026 Culinary Star theme, “A Taste of the Mediterranean,” challenged students to explore global flavors and cooking techniques inspired by the region’s rich culinary traditions.

Each year, Aramark Student Nutrition organizes the Culinary Star Competition to give high school culinary students from across the southern region hands‑on experience in a professional culinary setting. The competition is designed to strengthen core skills including food safety, teamwork, menu development, and presentation while encouraging creativity and confidence under pressure.