From the Classroom to the Kitchen 
'Diced' Culinary and Fundraising Challenge

October 24, 2022

“An apple a day…” is how the saying begins. Though probably not entirely accurate, the phrase is a succinct illustration of the connection between diet and overall health. It’s a lesson students in the first-year Culinary Medicine course at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) recently took out of the classroom and into the kitchen for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cook in front of some of the most renowned chefs in the country.

Inspired by the Food Network's TV game show, Chopped, and developed by Vetri Community Partnership, the “Diced” challenge pits the five students of PCOM’s “Scalpels and Spatulas” team against two other teams in a rapid-fire competition to create a nutritious, delicious dish from a basket of mystery ingredients. The PCOM team consisted of students Isabella Benitez-Enriquez (DO ‘25), Claire Berger (DO ‘25) Emily Baus (DO ‘25), Bridget McNierney (DO ‘25), and Dillon Gooder (DO ‘25).

The challenge put the teams’ time management skills and creativity to the test. Each team was given 45 minutes to use their ingredients to prepare a dish that was graded for taste, presentation, fundraising amount, and creativity by a panel of celebrity judges, including James Beard Award Winner Marc Vetri, Iron Chef and James Beard Award Winner Jose Garces, Chef and Activist Kurt Evans, and CBS Philadelphia feature reporter Vittoria Woodill.

Led by Farzaneh Daghigh, PhD, professor of Biochemistry and co-director, the Culinary Medicine course teaches students that high-quality food based on the Mediterranean Diet can help prevent and treat chronic disease and restore well-being. “We know that diet and overall health are inextricably linked,” said Daghigh. “This challenge put the lessons these students are learning into practice, all in support of a great cause.” Joanne Kakaty-Monzo, DO, clinical professor, is also co-director, and Chef Budd Cohen instructs the Culinary Skills portion of the course.

Students also learn to be comfortable with evidence-based medical nutrition information to care for future patients using a holistic approach. In addition, they learn to engage these topics through the lens of food equity and insecurity.

For the "Diced" competitors, the buzzer sounded and the judges rendered their verdict, ultimately selecting as champions team “Wok This Way” from the Junior League of Philadelphia. “Although we didn't win, the experience was unforgettable,” said McNierney. “I think our team really worked well together to produce a tasty dish…it definitely lived up to expectations in terms of how enjoyable the experience was.” “It will be a great story and fond memory for a long time—especially being able to say that Marc Vetri or Jose Garces complimented the flavors we created in our dish,” added Berger.

All funds raised through the "Diced" challenge will support Vetri Community Partnership’s mission to empower kids and families to lead healthier lives through fresh food, hands-on experiences and education.

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