Kids rock the kitchen with Chopsticks & Beyond

Some of the example dumplings proved the contestants' artistic flair. [Photo/CRIENGLISH.com]

The 30 minute time line was diamond tight, and the goal of creating 20 jiaozi was hardly accomplished by anyone. But time waits for no one, so the completed jiaozi were scooped up to be boiled and the next task ensued.

This time, contestants were to use a variety of vegetables to create a work of edible art representing China. Impressively, the group went to work without any apparent struggle about how to deal with the assignment. The visual works were varied and diverse in their compositions, subject material, methods as well as in their rationales.

Bridget Leibold's piece represented a Buddhist temple, allowing her to discuss the complexity of constructing such an edifice. "If you wobble this, it could all fall apart," she added, referencing the many temples in China that have reached a dilapidated state.

Others were less intellectual. "This is a boat and the ocean," announced a younger boy. When asked what the connection was with China, he blurted with incredulity, "There is no connection!"

By this time, the jiaozi were ready, and the public judges lined up to sample them, casting their votes by placing a sticker on the chef whose jiaozi they deemed best.

The professional judges were chef Liu, who was joined with Cuisine Magazine's Ms Luo Xiao and the head of BCIS Bill O'Hearn. They carefully eyed the artworks and reflectively chewed the dumplings in order to choose the children with the best aesthetic and culinary combination.

Li Xinchen seized the prize for the 5-7 year old category. Alick Galvez snagged a prize for the 8-10ers. And Choi Jaeyoo beat out the others in the 11-15 age group.

The overall winner, as chosen by the public judges was Alick, who's dumplings were tasty, and whose artwork focused on the number eight which represents auspiciousness in China.

The prizes were boxes of fresh vegetables as provided by Tootoo Organic Farms, which may possibly have been more appreciated by parents than the kids themselves; but the smiles on the winners' faces only belied this thought.