This year we added something completely new and exciting –  the inaugural Senior Boy Iron Chef Chicken Wing Challenge.  Evan Grabois, Senior Boy Camp Leader came up with this crazy scheme and once he presented it to Kitchen Manager, Tracey Kirwan, they ran with the idea. Evan saw it as “an opportunity for boys to experience cooking at its finest and to gain a better understanding of what our chefs have to do to feed everyone at camp.”

The stakes were high as each cabin selected two representatives to prepare their wings. First place, a cabin pizza party, second, an ice-cream party and third an omelet breakfast. Are you catching the ‘food’ theme here?  Flavors were drawn at random out of a hat. Choices were diverse and ranged from spicy to sweet; citrus to BBQ – ten in all. Subsequent stations were set up with appropriate ingredients.

As part of the learning experience, special attention was made to explain hygiene rules that apply to our kosher kitchen. All hands were washed and gloves and chef hats donned. Boys were then given free reign to create their own masterpiece marinades, all under the careful, culinary eye and advice of Tracey (although not a trained chef, Tracey is a wonderful cook!). They were encouraged to taste and change their mixes. As Tracey said “ if it tastes bad now, it won’t taste better cooked!”

Once the wings were tossed in the marinades and placed on trays, they were carefully wrapped and refrigerated in the meat cooler for 5 hours to soak up their flavors. Prior to lighting the grill, and as per guidelines, the wings were pre cooked in our meat ovens. It should be noted that special attention was paid at all times to keep our allergic kids safe by keeping peanut satay wings separate on all occasions.

Now came time for our second pair of cabin reps to place the final char on our contenders at Jimmy’s BBQ Palace. Two large grills were prepared with hot coals and divided into sections to allow each of the ten flavors of wings to be cooked and finished to perfection. The boys got to experience the extreme conditions of standing in front of a smoking hot grill on an equally smoking hot afternoon, leaving them with even more appreciation of what it takes to prepare the food that they often take for granted.

Once completed the wings were separately whisked into the boys dining hall where eager judges and campers awaited the final adjudication. Our auspicious judges were – Ben, Program Director; George, “Salad Man” and Kenny, Chef. At one point Kenny was required back in the kitchen so Tracey (reluctantly) took his place. Many a wing was eaten by campers and judges alike before the final scoring round took place. As each cabin and flavor was called the judges raised their scores; with the final victor being SB-5 with their amazing “Spiced Crumb” wings.

Jacob from SB-1 who helped prepare Lemon Pepper wings said, “I think the coolest part was actually learning how to make the sauce and be in the kitchen to see how the chefs at camp have to prepare food every day. It took a lot to prepare just 30 wings, I can’t imagine how much these chefs have to cook.” Andrew from SB-11 helped make BBQ wings, “I really liked being in the kitchen and watching all the chefs prepare the food and also cooking for senior boys.” Zack, also from SB-11, thought “that we did really well even though we came in last. I learned basically how to prep the wings and how to marinade them and I think the coolest part was cooking dinner for senior boys. I cook at home sometimes but for breakfast usually. I learned that teamwork really helps and I think that Andrew and I worked really well together as a team.”

The first ever Senior Boy Iron Chef Chicken Wing Challenge was without a doubt one of the culinary and overall highlights of the last two seeks for the senior boys. It created not only a wonderful exciting learning experience, but a new appreciation for the campers of what it takes to satisfy the nutritional needs of Blue star campers and staff.