Edward T. Bowser Elementary School buzzed with culinary excitement as SodexoMagic, the joint venture between Magic Johnson Enterprises and Sodexo Inc., hosted its inaugural Future Chef and One Table Food Festival. The event, sponsored by SodexoMagic’s Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) team, drew approximately 120 parents, students, Board members, educators, and Superintendent Dr. Irving, all united in a celebration of wellness, nutrition, and community empowerment.
The festival offered a diverse range of activities, including interactive cooking and nutrition classes led by SodexoMagic Dietician Alyssa Muscio. Attendees were treated to demonstrations featuring the “Magic Kitchen” and a sneak peek of the upcoming International Big City Bites limited-time offering, the Nashville chicken sandwich, set to launch on menus March 19, 2025.
Health and wellness were also a central focus, with Vituity Cares Foundation providing BMI, blood pressure, and glucose readings. The highlight of the event, however, was the Future Chef competition, where six talented students, selected from 56 recipe submissions, showcased their culinary skills in live cooking demonstrations.
The judging panel, comprised of Superintendent Dr. Irving, Board President McPhatter, Assistant Principal Kathy Brantley, last year's Future Chef winner Macerna Cerdna, and Sage McPhatter, faced a challenging task selecting the champion. Ultimately, 5th grader Farhan Sammy from Bowser Elementary School impressed the judges with his flavorful D' Zesty Salmon dish, served with garlic potatoes and broccoli. Farhan's sous chef was his mother, who also serves as the PTO Vice President. Farhan's recipe will now 
"SodexoMagic's Future Chef Competition and One Table Food Festival serve as a wonderful opportunity to inspire and empower the students and families of the East Orange School District community,” said Superintendent Dr. Irving. “These events not only showcase the culinary talents of our youth but also foster a sense of unity and pride within our schools. It's important that we continue to provide these platforms that celebrate creativity, teamwork, and cultural expression. I’m proud to see our students actively engaging with the future of food and community building.”
Sage McPhatter-Davis, a food judge at the event, added, “I recently had the pleasure of serving as a food judge for SodexoMagic Future Chef cooking competition. Young chefs, with the help of their dedicated “sous-chefs,” crafted creative dishes that balanced great taste and nutrition. It was an incredible experience seeing their enthusiasm, teamwork, and culinary skills in action. More than just a contest, the event highlighted the importance of healthy eating and youth engagement, and I truly enjoyed being part of such an inspiring initiative!”
The event received additional support from East Orange Public Schools, The Church of Pentecost, Vituity Cares Foundation, Green Bronx Machine, Merck, Magic Johnson Foundation, and AALF EBRG.