Two influential clubs on the Berkeley campus—FEED Berkeley and the Basic Needs Center—collided this November in honor of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week to host an informative and engaging “Chopped” style event. The Chopped event allowed students on campus to create their own teams to participate. Some competing chefs were even members of our very own Spoon organization.

Before we get into the competition, let me explain what these organizations actually do. Cal’s Food, Equity, Entrepreneurship, and Development consulting group, better known as FEED, is a student group that taps into the corporate sector to seek food justice. FEED helps strategize and develop goals for organizations to meet imperative food-related needs. The Basic Needs center, around the corner in MLK, is a network of multiple support systems that offer assistance for food, financial, and housing insecurity. Now let's get to the competition.

#SpoonTip: Every few months, challenge yourself with a pantry clean out and use up ingredients you have on hand that are often nudged to the side. It helps combat food waste while also keeping your budget in line.

Alissa Caldwell

Round 1 

Alissa Caldwell

The event kicked off with bustling energy as pans were clanging and food was sizzling: the heat of the competition had me guessing if it was Hell’s Kitchen themed. The wholesome and organic-based basket included frozen corn, fennel, and Honest O’s—an organic rendition of Cheerios. They had 30 minutes to whip up a dish, which is around the same time most bustling students spend on their quick bites.

Alissa Caldwell

Some common techniques used were crumbling, toasting, and dusting the cheerios. The corn was generally heated and most teams used the fennel as a garnish. Some plates were inspired with themes of Thanksgiving Day leftovers and Grandma’s cooking. One dish, the “Cafe 3 Special,” was a smorgasbord of ideas and compositions that represented the “shared backgrounds through life” within each teammate.

Alissa Caldwell

Round 2

Alissa Caldwell

As the dessert round commenced, savory, sweet, and even burning scents filled the air—this is fitting, as most Chopped episodes progress with at least someone setting a flame to a pan. The basket included instant oats, pumpkin, and lemon as necessary ingredients.

Alissa Caldwell

Cooks experimented by creating homemade granola and incorporated pumpkin pie-inspired flavors. As the 10-second countdown for the final was being chanted, I was internally screaming. I wanted to remind all teams to get everything on the plate, as chef and judge of the food network show, Alex Guarnaschelli famously does. Once the dishes were presented, themes of Thanksgiving and grandma’s cooking continued to be woven into the final round.

Alissa Caldwell

As the event came to an end, the team from Berkeley's chapter of Net Impact, a non-profit business organization, reigned as Cal’s chopped champions. The Basic Needs Team as well as the FEED team tied for second.

Alissa Caldwell

Camille Fang, a fellow Spoonie and competitor reflected on the experience of the event: “I’ve been watching Chopped for a while now and it’s easy to get lost in the competition and underestimate the hard work and time of the chefs on the show. Not going to say I was expecting to create a masterpiece, but let’s just say this event truly showed me how much effort and time it takes to make yummy, nutritious meals at home—better yet as a busy college student."

Alissa Caldwell

It can be tough to juggle a healthy lifestyle on a budget, but remember that Berkeley has a food pantry for those in need of the necessities. The resources range from frozen fruits and vegetables to high-quality bread and fresh produce such as greens and eggs. Just because Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week flew by in November 2019, any day is a good time to be cognizant of the issues that affect those in our campus or community. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, check-in with the welcoming crowd at the Basic Needs Center. No matter what your needs are, this event was a reminder that you can still be a star in your kitchen with minimal and even seemingly disconnected ingredients. If you are looking to prep for this event next year, or need a dose of inspiration, I recommend you start binge-watching Chopped ASAP!