What do you get when you combine 11 teenagers, two brave judges, and a shopping bag filled with after-school snacks? Muhlenberg Library’s first annual “Top Chef” competition!

Last Friday, teens at Muhlenburg Library used everyday food to make extra-ordinary after school snacks. The results were simply delicious! (Most of the time.)

To host a “Top Chef” program, you’ll need a grab bag of snacks (the more random they are... the more interesting the finished products will be!), and a variety of utensils, plates, cups, and napkins. Make sure you have a solid time limit for snack assembly. The snacks should be judged by taste and presentation, with prizes given to the top three chefs. All in all, it's a great way to start the summer!

Top Five Lessons Learned:

1. Make sure your chefs wash their hands before starting; this should have been obvious to me but it wasn’t till much too late.
2. Have extras of everything... spoons especially!
3. Use a tablecloth! Things get messy when you are rushed.
4. If you are the judge, make sure you buy snacks that you’ll want to eat... in every combination. I really wish I didn’t have to try a honey and cheddar cheese combination, but I did.
5. Embrace the mess. You can prep all you want, but it's going to get messy anyway.

Find Top Chef cookbooks and DVDs in the Catalog, and more blog posts about food at NYPL.