NEISD hosted a taste testing event on Thursday, Nov. 6, at Bradley Middle School.
All NEISD students and parents were welcome to try out all current and new food items they’re hoping to add to the cafeteria menu.
“I think that the attendance definitely exceeded my expectations,” Taylor Thompson, the event’s host, said. “I think that the attendance definitely exceeded my expectations. to be honest, the items that Chef Omar put on this tasting menu exceeded my expectations as well, but I also have full faith in him and our team to do something like this. So it’s not really that surprising, but it’s very impressive.”
The categories for food included:
- Breakfast Blvd – Including Banana Bread, Pumpkin Bread, Bagel with Berry-Cream Cheese, Jalapeno Cream Cheese Kolache, Berry-Cream Cheese Kolache.
- La Via Italia – Including Stromboli with Marinara, Detroit Pizza, Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with Breadstick.
- Souper Bowl Road – Including Chicken Ramen with Cabbage, corn, and green onion. Chicken Pozole with Cabbage, radish, and cilantro. General Tso Noodle Bowl with Egg Roll.
- International Way – Including Falafel & Hummus Wrap, Chicken Shawarma & Hummus Wrap, Birria Quesadilla with Pico.
- Drink Station – Including Poppi drink flavors, Orange, Ginger Lime, Strawberry Lemon, Watermelon, Cherry Limeade, Raspberry Rose.
“I really like the idea of easy grab and go items for students to grab,” Thompson said. “They don’t have to wait for a server, it’s just easy.”
One of Chef Ortega’s favorite meals, the falafel and hummus wrap, received a range of feedback during the event.
“They’re my two favorite things on the tasting menu, and I think if students gave those a try, they would find something new that they really like.”
After tasting the food, attendees would scan QR codes of all the categories to select what foods they did or did not like, and if they should be added to the monthly menu.
“They’re, like, my babies, you know?” Omar Ortega, Executive Chef of Bradley Middle School, said. “But if I happen to pick a couple of them, the shawarma and the falafel wrap.”
Chef Ortega did not anticipate the falafel to be a major success due to families not gravitating toward it.
“It’s a very, very good dish and I’m very excited for people to try it. And so we hope to put it on the menu for more people than grab it.”
