Favorite Food Shows have always been one of my favorite 4-H events. So when I was asked to judge in a neighboring county this spring, I agreed! It is always a fun time to see what the young cooks will bring and how they will display it. Of course, the interview with the judge carries the most points. I always ask about preparation, food safety, food groups, nutrition, and family traditions. They tell me why they chose the food as their favorite food display and what they know (or remember) about the preparation.Usually there is a theme used to showcase the food and table, this can be a party theme, international idea, holiday, or other. This week when I judged, I saw a birthday party, a Mexican dinner, Irish stew, Easter and Christmas meals, and a cookout. The senior age winner used a chicken theme for Father's Day. The table was decorated with chicken decor and the main course was a chicken dish. But the favorite food was strawberry shortcake, the red accented the blue tones of the table well, as the dessert would have been a sweet accent for the meal.
