Mr. Rich Poole, Trinity’s School Chef won top honors in the annual Taste of College Park festival this month. “Bridesmaid, again,” Rich commented as his Green Coat Catering team took second place in “The Best Overall” category for the second year in a row. Green Coat served up a tasty entry for a Spring-time Ocktoberfest: Bratwurst Bites with homemade Sauerkraut and Pretzel Nuggets, all garnished with Spicy Rhubarb Mustard. More than a bitty bite, the entry proved to be a mouth-watering, palate–pleasing delicacy for the 700 guests at the fest; this Oktoberfest fare surpassed all but one of the twenty-six culinary competitors from the Orlando area. Big and important numbers, but read on…
Chef Poole serves over 1000 plates of food each week at Trinity! All food is prepared on-site in Trinity’s kitchen. Fresh ingredients, not government commodities so common in school lunch programs, are the mainstay of the daily menu. New this year is Mr. Poole’s menu planning which complies with the Nemours Healthy Choice Initiative, in which all of our students from age 2 to grade 8:
• receive a balanced offering of food, half of which consists of fruits and vegetables
• drink water instead of sugary drinks like juice and soda
• drink fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk
• avoid oversized portions
• get at least half of their grains from whole grains
Throughout the year, Mr. Poole’s culinary creations have graced our tables Monday through Friday each school day, at our Thanksgiving Family Dinner, for the Breakfast Club each morning before school begins, at receptions for school events, for Family Fun Nights, and meals for teachers when parent meetings occur after school and into the evening. It is indeed an honor to have our master Chef keeping us satisfied and healthy all year long.