DALLAS — Celebrity chefs Stephan Baity and Darin Leonardson are used to big audiences. Thursday, their audience at the Baylor Scott and White Health and Wellness Center at Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center was smaller but will have a large impact.
“We only have two purposes on this earth. It’s to sew seeds or water seeds. I always say if you find someone who doesn’t have a seed, you plant a seed,” said Stephan C. Baity, Celebrity Chef and Food Networks’ Cake/Halloween Wars contestant.
This time, the harvest is choosing healthier food options. A majority of the audience lives in South Dallas, an area considered to be a food desert.
“We only have one store, one grocery store in this area,” said Joan Newton, a South Dallas resident. She comes to the center five days a week.
“I’ve been coming here since 2013, and it changed my eating habits,” said Newton. “I was able to able to lose 35 pounds. I’m a competitive person and I told the class, ‘I’m going to beat all of you all.’”
Part of her strategy is learning from the chefs how to cook what you love in a healthier way. “People want to eat better, but they also don’t want to lose the flavor of their food,” said Baity.
“We want to empower people to live healthy lives, and nutrition is a part of that,” said Andrea Hayes, Baylor Scott and White Wellness and Health Center Marketing and Public Relations Manager.
Hayes said the healthy demonstration is the kickoff to their annual Chef Cookoff.
“We don’t just want to engage them kind of like a doctor’s appointment. Once or twice a year, you see the doctor. We want to engage them every day of the year throughout their lifecycle, so they can learn ways to improve their health,” said Hayes.
Chef Leonardson made veggie spring rolls while Chef Baity made macaroni and cheese. “That macaroni and cheese. I’ve never had macaroni and cheese like that,” said Newton. “I’m going to make that macaroni and cheese.”
She is a new competitor that the chefs gladly welcome. “You just never know the impact that you’re going to have,” said Baity. It is an impact seasoned with a hearty and healthy flavor.
Baylor Scott and White’s Chef Cookoff takes place Friday, October 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Middleby Innovation Kitchens.
