Fairfax student among five finalists in national cooking competition

A Fairfax County high school student is one of just five to reach the finals of a national cooking contest held in Arlington this summer.

Safaa Haizoun, a 10th grade student at the Virginia Virtual Academy, an online program offered by multiple public school districts statewide, earned a spot in the K-12 National Cook-Off in early June by designing an original recipe for creamy masala chicken.

To compete, Haizoun prepared a list of ingredients, wrote a reason for making the dish and how long it took to create, and snapped three photos showing the process of making it.

“I made this dish to combine bold flavors with comforting textures in a way that feels both familiar and exciting,” Haizoun wrote in the recipe submission. “I chose each ingredient intentionally so the creamy base, warm spices, and vibrant colors would balance with the sticky soft rice. By layering the ingredients step by step, I created a dish that blends beautifully from the first bite.”

Judges evaluated students’ entries based on how well the entry met the guidelines, how appealing it looked, as well as the originality and inventive use of ingredients.

The competition was open to students enrolled in any of K12’s national network of virtual public and private schools; about 250 students submitted entries for the original round.

During the finals, held for a third year on June 5 at Arlington’s Kitchen of Purpose, Haizoun prepared lamb chops with sweet potato, carrots, and Bartlett pear, followed by a pancake-style dessert with fresh cherries, to compete for a $1,000 grand prize awarded by the panel of judges.

“I wanted to step out of my comfort zone, try something new,” Haizoun told NBC4 in an interview at the finals.

Mini-cooking episodes showcasing the five finalists will be released next Wednesday, July 1, and voting will open to the public on July 6-17 to determine the winner of a $250 People’s Choice award.

Winners of both the grand prize and people’s choice award will be announced on July 31.