Veggie Layer Surprise prepared by students at American Senior High School

What was on the menu at this year’s Taste of Education food, wine and craft beer festival at Hialeah Park? Tropical ceviche, miso-glazed mushroom scallops with congee, mini birria tacos, mango cardamom mousse, to name just a few dishes.

Culinary students from Miami-Dade public middle and senior high schools prepared these dishes for a panel of judges during the day, and later for the public. Students are graded on criteria that includes presentation, taste, aroma and sales pitch. Participants at the annual fundraiser voted on People’s Choice Awards:

People’s Choice Award, presented by Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation: Cubs Ropa Vieja Paw Bites by Curry Cubs from Lamar Louise Curry Middle School
Runner Up: Sticky Toffee Pudding and Dulce de Leche Ice Cream by Toffee Delight from Hialeah Gardens Senior High School

Best Meat Dish, presented by CareerSource South Florida: Traditional Brown Stew Chicken by MNW Culinary from Miami Northwestern Senior High School
Runner Up: Cubs Ropa Vieja Paw Bites by Curry Cubs from Lamar Louise Curry Middle School

Best Seafood Dish: Tropical Ceviche by 40 Flavors of Jaguars from Jose de Diego Middle School
Seafood, Runner Up: Salmon Wellington by Lightning Bolts from Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School

Best Vegetarian Dish: Garden Lasagna Bisque by Cougar Chefs from Miami Killian Senior High School
Vegetarian, Runner Up: Roasted Vegetarian “Chiles Rellenos” by Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School

Best Dessert: Pierre Hermès’ Ispahon Macaron by Falcon Flavors from West Miami Middle School
Dessert, Runner Up: OG Cuban Dessert Staple by Fishtales Café from MAST Academy Key Biscayne

Best Sales Pitch: Cubs Ropa Vieja Paw Bites by Curry Cubs from Lamar Louise Curry Middle School
Sales Pitch, Runner Up: Traditional Brown Stew Chicken by MNW Culinary from Miami Northwestern Senior High SchoolBest Visual Presentation: Tropical Ceviche by 40 Flavors of Jaguars from Jose de Diego Middle School

Visual Presentation, Runner Up: Vegetable Medley Bites by Veggie Pirates from Robert Morgan Educational Center

For 40 years, The Education Fund has supported Miami-Dade public schools through programs that include Food Forests for Schools, operating in 51 public elementary and K-8 schools. Children learn nutrition, resiliency, math, biology and environmental science. More than 278,500 harvest bags of fresh produce have been distributed to help students and their families.