James Beard Award-winning chef Maria Hines (owner of Ballard’s Golden Beetle) just got back from Washington DC, where she and chef Tom Colicchio proved that real families on a SNAP (food stamp) budget can eat healthy.
Photo courtesy: Partnership for a Healthier America for now. Back row, L to R – Sam Kass (White House Assistant Chef), Kim Mrkva, Haile Thomas (host of Kids Can Cook!), Tom Colicchio, Holly Smith, Laura Castillo, Antonio Ferro, Maria Hines. Front row – Ming Tsai.
Hines and Colicchio were teamed up to take on challengers Ming Tsai and Cafe’ Juanita’s Holly Smith for the Great American Family Dinner challenge, sponsored by Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthier America. “It was great!” Hines says. “It was really fun. It was my first time working with Tom Colicchio.”
The chefs had 30 minutes to create a meal for four for ten-dollars or less. Hines tells us that her team made a a carrot raisin salad with apples & buttermilk dressing, beef stir-fry and panna cotta for dessert. The other team made a frisee salad, braised chicken and an apple dessert.
Two families judged the contest and chose Hines and Colicchio.
