Josue Cervantes discovered to prepare dinner from the girls in his family. His mother shared recipes from her mother and his grandmother shared his terrific-grandmother’s recipes. Now, Josue wishes to open up his possess restaurant someday.
“I’ve always advised (my mom) that I want to provide again hidden gems that are not definitely represented here in the United States and that are frequently identified in Mexico,” stated Josue, 17. “I want to … convey out new flavors and carry out a new palette into people so they could have a little bit of an perception of what Mexico genuinely is.”
Josue has been refining his techniques by CPS’s Vocation and Technological Instruction Method at North-Grand Large School, 4338 W. Wabansia Ave. in Humboldt Park.
The technological software normally takes classes from everyday lessons, these as math and science, to provide teaching in genuine-entire world workplaces, like the culinary and hospitality fields.
“If they go to culinary art college or any other pathway, the expertise they’re mastering are transferable and important to our learners,” explained Sherry Franklin, CPS Educational Guidance Professional.
On Friday, Josue and a staff of five other people demonstrated some of all those expertise at a food truck-themed competitiveness in opposition to 3 other educational institutions.
Candace Williams, 35, a culinary chef teacher at Manley Vocation Academy Large Faculty, assists Manley students (centre) Layla Sylvester, 17, and Antonio Anderson, 17, set up their “Burrito Baby” booth throughout Friday’s “Food Truck Wars” function.
Each college pitched organization designs for a truck alongside with a menu. Then, they made available samples, which the college students had cooked that morning at university.
Manley Vocation Academy’s Burrito Little one truck highlighted breakfast burrito bowls Roberto Clemente School’s truck, named Stuff It, presented chicken gyros. North-Grand determined to participate in up 90’s toddlers nostalgia.
“We needed to provide back again some hidden memories locked within us teens and grown ups,” stated Josue. He mentioned the objective was to evoke the sensation of looking at cartoons on a Saturday early morning. So they established The Krusty Sponge, showcasing SpongeBob SquarePants-encouraged krabby patties (a veggie burger marketed in the cartoon).
That effort and hard work acquired North-Grand honors for very best food items truck design and style, for their colourful burgers and lemonade, as nicely as ideal pitch.

Burgers and fries geared up by students from North-Grand High School for the “Food Truck Wars” a cooking contest hosted by Chicago Public Universities at Englewood Local community Kitchen area. The pupils established a foodstuff truck encouraged by “The Krusty Sponge” from SpongeBob SquarePants.
But it was Vaughn Occupational’s vast assortment of ice creams — hand-churned and built with herbs from their hydroponic backyard garden — that won greatest recipe.
Judges included representatives from around the culinary field, including Hill Food items Services Consulting, Aramark Food items Companies and Everfi, which provides a software in which pupils operate a simulated foodstuff truck.
“One factor I was hunting for was the depth of considered that went into the idea they wanted to carry to this foods truck,” claimed Jonathan Barnes, a decide from Everfi. “Food trucks are tremendous popular so we had been looking for actually progressive principles, but also genuinely great food.”
Barnes explained the ice product from Vaughn was some of the ideal he’d ever tasted.
“You can taste the entertaining that they had generating it and the tough get the job done they put into discovering the suitable balance and the proper combinations,” he mentioned.
Anthony McPhee, method director at Professions as a result of Culinary Arts Systems, was stunned the college students experienced hand-churned the ice product.
“It tastes delicious,” he reported. “This would conveniently be a $3 to $5 bowl. And they have their possess back garden — which is a excellent example of farm-to-desk appropriate there.”

Vaughn’s Fruitastic Herbalicious Frozen Treats ice product, geared up by college students from Vaughn Occupational Superior University, received best recipe at the “Food Truck Wars” opposition.
Anna Urban from Everfi urged the pupils to find out additional opportunities to get associated in the culinary arts subject. “Keep striving and hold doing the job on it. It is this sort of a satisfying career area that I come to feel like all these kids could really do properly in.”
Numerous college students on Friday shared stories identical to Josue’s. Vaughn’s Gustavo Patino, 22, turned intrigued in culinary just after viewing his mom cook dinner for the loved ones. Tatianna Bowlton, 17, from Clemente, employed to observe her grandfather about in the kitchen. And Antonio Anderson, 17, who attends Manley, explained his mom made use of to question for his assist when he was minor.
That is why Tatianna said there had been no hard emotions toward the winners.
“We’re still happy,” stated Tatianna, introducing that Friday was more about the working experience than going for walks absent with a prize.
But she and all the other college students were surprised when Dr. Brian Hill, operator of Hill Food items Assistance Consulting, reported they would every obtain $100 to invest in monogrammed chef’s jackets.
“I want a pink one,” Tatianna explained, laughing.

Like the other students, Cynthia Sandoval (correct), who attends North-Grand Large University, was astonished by the news that all college students in the Foodstuff Truck Wars opposition would acquire $100 to acquire their individual chef’s jackets.
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