Jonathan DiFlavis, a fifth grader in Cinnaminson Township, Burlington County, was honored recently as a national finalist in the Sodexo Future Chefs program.
He caught the judges’ attention with a concoction called “baked pork dumpling flowers.”
“Jonathan’s creativity and skills at such a young age are truly remarkable, and we’re excited to see him recognized at the national level!” said Stephen M. Cappello, J.D., superintendent of Cinnaminson Township Public School District.
Jonathan has entered the Sodexo competition since he was in third grade. He started cooking with his mom, Dani Kirsten DiFlavis, when he was three, according to a story by Managing Editor Kathy Chang in the June 1 edition of the Cinnaminson News.
“The first thing we ever made (together) was chocolate chip cookies,” he told the News. “Basically, I took a shower in flour.” For his pork dumpling recipe, which he calls “fun to make,” Jonathan received input from his mom, who suggested using a puff pastry as the wrapper and different dipping sauces for the dish.
Sodexo is a food service provider with more than 100,000 employees at 3,400 locations across the United States. Jonathan was one of five national finalists in the company’s 15th Annual Future Chefs National Challenge.
Ultimately, Jonathan didn’t win the grand prize in the company contest this spring, but he did make it into the top five, and Superintendent Cappello said the district is “bursting with pride to see one of our talented young students recognized as a national finalist in the Future Chefs Challenge.”
Congratulations, Jonathan!
Editor’s note: Have students in your school achieved recognition or served the community in a remarkable way? Tell us about it! We can publish a brief story and photos of students and staff deserving recognition. All stories and photos must be submitted by the school district’s communications or superintendent’s office to ensure accuracy and compliance with district guidelines. Help us share your story with the rest of the state! Ask your district communications office to email stories and photos to School Board Notes Interim Editor Alan Guenther at aguenther@njsba.org.
