The Dallas Arboretum announces the finalists for Gardenlicious, a healthy kids cook-off contest. Local food celebrities will determine the final winners on Sunday, June 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alexander Camp House. A number of aspiring young chefs, ranging from grade 1 through 8, have submitted their recipes which incorporate at least one ingredient that grows in the Incredible Edible Garden gallery, found in the nationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.

Chairwoman Carol Pierce Goglia has enlisted the help of beloved star chefs of Dallas Kent Rathbun of Abacus and Scott Gottlich of Bijoux, and restaurateur Lynae Fearing of Shinsei to judge the children's culinary submissions. On June 29, the tables will turn when the finalists, selected by the chefs, become the jury as they test and critique the offerings of the three celebrity judges.

Guests will have the opportunity to watch young chefs compete as the celebrity judges decide who they think is the overall winner of their age-division. First place winners will be receiving personalized cooking lesson from Kent Rathbun of Abacus while the second place winners will be rewarded with free cooking lessons from The Young Chefs Academy.  

Everyone will be invited to sample the chef’s dishes at the event. Hardie's Fruit & Vegetable Co, one of the sponsors for the Gardenlicicous event, will be creating intricate food displays to showcase the ingredients used in each dish prepared by the three celebrity chefs. 

There are a number of exciting activities for guests to enjoy during Gardenlicious. Aside from the exhilarating cooking competition, The American Heart Association will be hosting a healthy planting demonstration, allowing kids to plant seeds and take them home to watch their seedling grow. The Young Chefs Academy will also have an area where children can cook up their creativity; kids will be given white chef hats that they can color into their very own masterpiece they too can take home.

Audience tickets are free for kid chefs and their parents but for non-participants, general garden admission is required plus an additional $5 for members and $8 for non-members to attend the Gardenlicious event. Tickets are limited so do not miss the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful event. More information can be found online at http://www.dallasarboretum.org/visit/seasonal-festivals-events/yearofcg.

Finalist Include:

1^st and 2^nd Grade Division:

Homemade Chicken and Roasted Corn Soup: Alfred Hoak, Greenhill

Cheyenne's Watermelon Cake: Cheyenne Peterson, Heritage Christian Academy

Zucchini Carrot Muffins: Jane Taten, Hockaday

3^rd and 4^th Grade Division:

Red and Yellow Hummus: Emma Becker, University Park Elementary

Blueberry Crumble Cream Pie: Annie Hurley, Hockaday

Very Berry Yogurt Cupcake: Grace Twomey, Parish Episcopal School

5^th and 6^th Grade Division:

Avocado Chocolate Mousse by Sophie Podeszwa, Hockaday

Summer Smoothie by Cate Goglia, Hockaday

Cool Kid Cucumber Radish Salad by Grace Dorward, Hockaday

7^th and 8^th Grade Division:

Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Frico Chips by Charlotte Podeszwa, ESD

Spring has Sprung by Alex Karamyshev, Highland Park Middle School

Viva Vegan Tostada with Black Bean Spread by Anna Walker & Sydney Love, Highland Park Middle School

For more information the Gardenlicious Kids Cook-Off, call 214.515.6500 or visit the Arboretum’s website at http://www.dallasarboretum.org/yearofcg.

About the Dallas Arboretum

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218.  The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 3-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. There is an additional cost of $3 per person for entrance into the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. On-site parking is $10.  The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum.  The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.  WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.