Current seniors Joshua Warren and Jonathan Abrantes (left to right) won Charger Chopped in 2022.
Courtesy | Student Activities Board

The Student Activities Board is bringing back its popular cooking contest this Saturday from 1-3 p.m. in the Old Snack Bar as a part of Parents Weekend.

Charger Chopped is a team-oriented competition based on the Food Network television show of the same name: “Chopped.”

Twelve teams  of three students will have 30 minutes to cook a dish, which will include three mystery ingredients.

The teams will then present their dishes to a panel of judges composed of Hillsdale faculty and staff, with the winner taking home bragging rights, according to Gabrielle Lewis, a senior and member of the SAB events planning team.

“Everyone gets excited and creative about Charger Chopped,” Lewis said. “It wasn’t done last year, but it’s still historical. It’s a fan favorite.”

Junior Elizabeth Gannon participated in the Charger Chopped event in March 2022 when she was a freshman.

“I think it’s a good idea to bring the event back, that was actually one of my favorite SAB events,” Gannon said. “It’s a classic.” 

Her team of close friends won second place with their carrots caramelized in agave, tomato, chicken, and sun-dried tomato pasta.

“I was shocked that we did as well as we did because we were so chaotic the entire time, it was so fun,” Gannon said. “We barely got done in time.”

Gannon said there were three types of teams that participated in the event: the teams that really wanted to win, the ones who accidentally did well, and the ones who showed up and had fun but created inedible dishes.  

“It’s an experience that many people should have,” Gannon said. “It’s not actually that hard, you don’t actually have to create a masterpiece, you can just have fun with it.”

Gannon said when her team competed, one of her teammates had no cooking experience, but the event was a fun and easy way to cook. 

This year, SAB is partnering with Metz to provide the cooking burners, supplies, and food for the event. 

“I think some people really enjoy cooking, and Charger Chopped gives them an opportunity to hang out and enjoy it without having to buy all the supplies,” Lewis said. “It’s also just a time to hang out and engage with their friends.”