It’s all about teamwork.</p><p>Figuring out who is best at what and then working together to accomplish a goal. This is the strategy three Lee’s Summit North High School students plan to use when they attempt to win gold at the Star Events competition set for Feb. 12, at the Belton Career Center.</p><p>Star Events, a division of FCCLA, pits culinary teams against each other as they prepare a menu for judges. The teams are made up three students who have 60 minutes to prepare two plates. Students are given a bronze, silver or gold ranking and also assigned points based on food preparation, food production and safety and appearance. </p><p>“I think we’re going to do very well at competition,” said Nia Anderson, a junior at LSN. “I’m not worried.”</p><p>Anderson, along with teammates Nicole Hadley, a junior, and Tia Throckmorton, a sophomore, were spending their afternoon Tuesday practicing in the LSN Family and Consumer Science kitchens. </p><p>“I think today the hardest thing is going to be making a cream sauce,” Hadley said. “It’s something you have to sit and watch so it doesn’t burn and when you’re trying to keep dishes clean or chop vegetables, your mind isn’t always focused.”</p><p>The team was practicing one menu, of a possible three, that will be used in next week’s competition. Since they won’t know until that day what they’ll be cooking and serving, teams practice making everything on the menus until it’s perfect. </p><p>“I’m a little worried about making the vinaigrette,” Throckmorton said. “Practice makes perfect though.” The three students said they were encouraged to join FCCLA and participate in the competition by their FACS teacher – Ann Pike. </p><p>“This is my first year ‘coaching’ for the competition,” Pike said. “I had the girls in one of my culinary classes and they enjoyed working together. So I suggested they try a Start Events competition.” </p><p>Pike said she thinks the team has a good chance to place at the competition, “They work very well together and they’ve all found a niche – what they do best.” </p><p>“I think the hardest thing, so far, has been practicing knife skills,” Anderson said. “We have to do a lot of prep work –, chopping and cutting –, and it saves a lot of time if you’re fast. So working on knife skills is a must.”</p><p>The teammates are all considering careers in the culinary field. Anderson said she’d like to try catering, while Hadley and Throckmorton said they aspire to become pastry chefs. </p><p>“I love cooking,” Anderson said. “I can be in my own little world, by myself, when I’m cooking something. It’s also a great way to express myself and see and try different kinds of foods I might have never thought to try before.”</p><p>“My TV is constantly on the Food Network,” Throckmorton added. “I love watching cooking shows because you learn a ton. But eating what I’ve made is definitely my favorite part.” </p><p>Pike said the “explosion” of Food Network has had a hand in students wanting to learn to cook.</p><p>“Everyone wants to cook,” she said. “But when you get into talking about specifics – such as hospitality and all the responsibilities that go along with owning your restaurant – some kids start to lose a little bit of interest. The kids who compete in these culinary competitions are all very interested in furthering their culinary career.”</p><p>None of the students said they were nervous about the competition and as they moved around the small LSN kitchen Tuesday, they looked well prepared. </p><p>“I don’t think the judges are going to throw any curveballs at them or anything,” Pike said. “But they will be competing at the Belton Career Center, which has restaurant-style kitchens, which are a little different than what they’re used to. It’ll take them a few minutes to get situated and everything ready.” </p><p>“I think our team motto is ‘go big or go home,’” joked Anderson. “Cooking is just fun. That’s how we look at it. We’re ready to show off what we can do.”</p><p><i>To reach Journal reporter Emily Jarrett, call 816-282-7018 or e-mail ejarrett@lsjournal.com.</i>