SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Beef—it’s what won Spanish Fort Middle School seventh-grader Kyle Gaines first place in the state Beef Cook-off, Jan. 10 in Montgomery.

Kyle competed with his grandmother’s lumpia recipe in the beef cook-off competition at Spanish Fort Middle School Oct. 10 and received first place. The win took him to the county beef cook-off hosted by Foley High School Oct. 14, when he won first place and a spot to compete in the statewide competition.

The big win came Jan. 10 when Kyle took home the first-place prize for the middle school division of the state cook-off.

“I was shocked,” Kyle said, of when he learned he was the state’s middle-school winner.

He had plenty of practice prior to the win; Kyle said he’s cooked since he was 2. 

These days, when unbusy with school work, he enjoys cooking steak and baking cookies.

Kyle received first place for his lumpia recipe against 20 other middle-school students from Alabama. About eight other middle school students from around Baldwin County competed in the county competition.

“It was a good trip,” Kyle said. “I was nervous the whole way up there.”

The state award-winning lumpia recipe Kyle prepared came from his grandmother.

Kyle said the family makes lumpia for big parties and special holidays, like New Years and the Fourth of July.

Entry requirements were as follows:

The beef cook-off in Montgomery was sponsored by the Alabama Beef Producers and the Cattlewomen’s Association, according to Dianne Bernasconi, Spanish Fort Middle School family and consumer science teacher.

Spanish Fort Middle School has won every county cook-off this year.

Kyle has won a total of $350 for his wins. He received $50 for his win with the county; $150 for his win for the state; and another $150 for the trip from Spanish Fort to Montgomery.

Kyle said he will save the money—but isn’t sure what he will spend it on.

Bernasconi said cook-offs have been part of family and consumer sciences for years. One of her students has won the sweet potato cook-off and the beef cook-off for the county two years in a row.

“I remind them that we begin to taste with our eyes, and to remember to make it attractive,” Bernasconi said.

Kyle won honorable mention for his sweet potato critters at Spanish Fort Middle School’s sweet potato cook-off earlier in the school year and plans to compete in the school’s chocolate cook-off Thursday.

Kyle said he already knows what he will prepare for the chocolate cook-off and hopes for another win.