Petoskey High School hosts 2nd annual Food Truck Wars for culinary students

Karly Graham, The Petoskey News-Review
·2 min read

PETOSKEY — On Wednesday afternoon, young chefs from Petoskey and Boyne City put their culinary expertise to the test during the second annual Food Truck Wars.

Students from Boyne City High School and Petoskey High School split off into groups and brainstormed different themes, menus and mission statements for their individual food trucks. Then, the groups each chose two of the menu items — one savory and one sweet — to make in sample sizes for people to try.

Students from Boyne City High School and Petoskey High School's culinary programs met for the second annual Food Truck Wars on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
Students from Boyne City High School and Petoskey High School's culinary programs met for the second annual Food Truck Wars on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
Boyne City High School junior Jamie Ploe helps assemble fish tacos for the Food Truck Wars on March 20, 2024. Seniors Kael Coates and Austin Schroder accompanied Ploe's team to make "Meals on Reels" and won the competition.
Boyne City High School junior Jamie Ploe helps assemble fish tacos for the Food Truck Wars on March 20, 2024. Seniors Kael Coates and Austin Schroder accompanied Ploe's team to make "Meals on Reels" and won the competition.

From Lego-built trucks that graced the serving tables to a flame torch being used on marshmallows, each station had a unique set-up.

“This gives our students an idea that there’s something more out there, it’s bigger than just our classroom,” said Bill Sommerfeldt, Petoskey High School’s culinary program instructor.

From fish tacos to ramen, there was a wide range of foods for visitors to try.

Students from Boyne City High School and Petoskey High School's culinary programs met for the second annual Food Truck Wars on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
Students from Boyne City High School and Petoskey High School's culinary programs met for the second annual Food Truck Wars on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
Boyne City High School student Austin Notestine sets up food for his group during the Food Truck Wars on March 20, 2024 at Petoskey High School.
Boyne City High School student Austin Notestine sets up food for his group during the Food Truck Wars on March 20, 2024 at Petoskey High School.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

Those visiting were able to vote in the competition, each receiving six stars they could give out to the different stations. The station with the most stars at the end of the event won.

“They bring their A-game,” Sommerfeldt said. “They’re knocking it out of the park for high school kids. You look around and you taste something and you’re like, ‘Really? A high school kid made that?’”

Boyne City High School student Eva Sommerfeldt manned the griddle, helping make breakfast sandwiches for her Food Truck Wars team on March 20, 2024.
Boyne City High School student Eva Sommerfeldt manned the griddle, helping make breakfast sandwiches for her Food Truck Wars team on March 20, 2024.
Petoskey culinary instructor Bill Sommerfeldt addresses the crowd about the Food Truck Wars on March 20, 2024 and what students had to prepare for the second annual event.
Petoskey culinary instructor Bill Sommerfeldt addresses the crowd about the Food Truck Wars on March 20, 2024 and what students had to prepare for the second annual event.

Sommerfeldt encouraged attendees to ask the students about the food they made and about the process they went through in planning out their food trucks.

Boyne City High School's "Meals on Reels" food truck won the event with their fish tacos and lemon desserts. The team was comprised of seniors Kael Coates and Austin Schroder and junior Jamie Ploe.

For the Food Truck Wars, students are required to make a complete menu and mission statement for their trucks. Some teams came with Lego trucks while others had drawings of their truck designs.
For the Food Truck Wars, students are required to make a complete menu and mission statement for their trucks. Some teams came with Lego trucks while others had drawings of their truck designs.

Petoskey's "Ramen Shop," made up by senior Garret Keith and juniors Waylon Olsen, Jackson Jacobs and Jacob Greene, ended in second.

In third was Petoskey's "Meanie Panini," a team composed of seniors Peter Krussell, Bailey Guenthardt, Jeffrey Keller and Alice Bailey.

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey High School hosts 2nd annual Food Truck Wars for culinary students