The secret ingredient was carrots when teams of teenagers from Riverview and Durant high schools manned their kitchen stations recently for an Iron Chef-style competition at The Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium in Brandon, Fla. Carrot pesto, carrot risotto, carrot bread pudding – one by one the dishes made their way to judges, along with favorites such as tuna tartare, kimchi, steak, asparagus and more. On the line was Tampa-area bragging rights, as well as $1200 worth of cookware for the winning school’s kitchen.

Riverview High teens captured first place and some kitchenware the school’s kitchen. Both schools netted a percentage of the day’s sales at the kitchen emporium.

Tampa-area teams from Riverview and Durant high schools recently battled it out in an Iron Chef-style contest in Florida. (Photo by ANDY JONES, The Tampa Tribune)