Delicious delicacies lined the tables in a Family and Consumer Sciences classroom at Wantagh Middle School on Jan. 22, but despite the temptation to taste, they were only for show. 

Eighth graders from the Ultimate Chef classes, taught by Jenna Messina and Janine Rotondo, participated in Cupcake Wars, a highly-anticipated, end-of-semester baking competition. The young chefs worked in small groups to bake and decorate cupcakes, taking knowledge from all of the cooking projects they have done over the past five months. Skills they learned ranged from measuring ingredients to piping techniques for icing. 

This year’s theme was restaurant chains. Students had to bake 12 cupcakes that matched the theme. Each group also created a posterboard backdrop with the restaurant’s logo and at least four facts about the company.

After three weeks of planning, baking and decorating, the finished cupcakes were on display in one of the FACS classrooms. All middle school faculty and staff were invited to come in and vote for their favorite.