- Adam Hoffa, executive chef at Pirouette Café & Wine Shop in Ballston
- Isabel Coss of Pascual on Capitol Hill in D.C.
- Brian MacNair, CEO of Kitchen of Purpose
The 2025 K12 National Cook-Off was a prestigious culinary event that brought together five young student chefs from across the country to compete in a version of the Food Network show “Chopped”. The competition was judged by three celebrity chefs: Adam Hoffa, executive chef at Pirouette Café & Wine Shop in Ballston, Isabel Coss of Pascual on Capitol Hill in D.C., and Brian MacNair, CEO of Kitchen of Purpose. The competition was held at the Kitchen of Purpose in Westmont, with more than 400 students entering the event. The five finalists were Jackalynn B., a 12th grader at Hoosier College and Career Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana; Abijah Sol L. M., a sixth-grade student at California Virtual Academy in Simi Valley, California; Caleb M., a sixth-grader at Destinations Career Academy of Georgia in Atlanta, Georgia; Isla P., a ninth-grade student at Texas Virtual Academy of Hallsville in Lewisville, Texas; and Stella R., a ninth-grader at Golden Valley Charter School in Ventura, California. The finalists had one hour to prepare an entrée using randomly selected ingredients, and then an additional 30 minutes to make a dessert using a random fruit. The dishes were judged on taste, presentation, creativity of ingredients, time allotted, food safety, and mise en place. “More and more, especially in younger kids, being a chef and learning to cook is something that’s a viable career,” said Hoffa. “Everybody’s going to eat. You’ll always have work.” Hoffa, who grew up in Goose Creek, South Carolina, was fortunate enough to have a culinary arts program in his high school, which put him on the track to becoming an executive chef. Although MacNair was cooking as a young boy with his Italian mother in New York City, he never imagined that he would have a career in the culinary world. It wasn’t until his late 20s, when he rediscovered his love for home cooking, that he decided to pursue a career in the culinary industry. “I was on the line for a while, when I volunteered at DC Central Kitchen as a cook,” said MacNair. “That year, I was a chef down here at the Hilton, and that’s when my passions collided. All of a sudden, working in the nonprofit sector and watching people’s lives change in the culinary arts, it just collided at DC Central Kitchen. I’ve been blessed to be in that space ever since.”
MacNair went on to become the first executive chef at World Central Kitchen, working with Chef Jose Andres in providing food and humanitarian assistance to those in need across the globe. Now, as the CEO of Kitchen of Purpose, he is focused on training the next generation of chefs and food entrepreneurs. “Your core is five culinary classes a year and two food lab classes,” said MacNair. “If people are interested in starting their own business, they can come here. Graduates have an opportunity to apply for free kitchen space in our second shared kitchens, so we’re helping start small businesses.”
Coss’ path to becoming a chef began at the end of another artistic pursuit. She trained in ballet for many years and was fortunate enough to have a unique perspective on food, as it was considered “forbidden” for ballet dancers. “I was so excited about trying new food and trying candies,” she said. “I like the joy and creativity in seeing food and dishes.”
Growing up in Mexico City, Coss was surrounded by food, something considered “forbidden” for anyone who wanted to be a ballet dancer. She started doing an internship and eventually landed a job at Pascual on Capitol Hill in D.C. “I just wanted to be in the food, in the kitchen. As soon as I was in that environment, I realized that I love restaurants, and it was kind of like dancing again. There’s movement. There’s many things happening at the same time.”
The K12 National Cook-Off is a prestigious competition that showcases the culinary talents of young student chefs. The competition is open to students in grades 6-12, and the finalists are selected based on their culinary skills, creativity, and dedication to the culinary arts.
- Jackalynn B., a 12th grader at Hoosier College and Career Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Abijah Sol L. M., a sixth-grade student at California Virtual Academy in Simi Valley, California
- Caleb M., a sixth-grader at Destinations Career Academy of Georgia in Atlanta, Georgia
- Isla P., a ninth-grade student at Texas Virtual Academy of Hallsville in Lewisville, Texas
- Stella R., a ninth-grader at Golden Valley Charter School in Ventura, California
The competition is watched by many as a symbol of hope and inspiration for young student chefs. The judges’ feedback and guidance provide valuable insights into the world of culinary arts, and the finalists’ dishes showcase their creativity and talent. The K12 National Cook-Off is a platform for young student chefs to gain recognition, gain confidence, and develop their culinary skills. It is a competition that celebrates the art of cooking and provides a platform for young chefs to showcase their talents and compete with peers from across the country.
The 2025 K12 National Cook-Off was a prestigious culinary event that brought together five young student chefs from across the country to compete in a version of the Food Network show “Chopped”. The competition was judged by three celebrity chefs: Adam Hoffa, executive chef at Pirouette Café & Wine Shop in Ballston, Isabel Coss of Pascual on Capitol Hill in D.C., and Brian MacNair, CEO of Kitchen of Purpose.
The competition was held at the Kitchen of Purpose in Westmont, with more than 400 students entering the event. The five finalists were selected based on their culinary skills, creativity, and dedication to the culinary arts. The final episode of the competition will feature the K12 National Cook-Off People’s Choice winner. Voting for the winner will take place from July 23-29, and the winner will be announced during the final episode on July 31.
- More than 400 students entered the 2025 K12 National Cook-Off.
- The competition featured a version of the Food Network show “Chopped.”
- The final episode will feature the K12 National Cook-Off People’s Choice winner.
- Voting for the winner will take place from July 23-29.
The K12 National Cook-Off is a prestigious competition that celebrates the art of cooking and provides a platform for young student chefs to showcase their talents and compete with peers from across the country. The competition is open to students in grades 6-12, and the finalists are selected based on their culinary skills, creativity, and dedication to the culinary arts. It’s a competition that showcases the culinary talents of young student chefs and provides a platform for them to gain recognition, confidence, and develop their culinary skills.
As one of the judges, Adam Hoffa, said, “Everybody’s going to eat.
