MOULTRIE — Williams Middle School cafeteria manager Tammy Hart’s winning sweet potato salad made her a State Culinary Champion recently at the Georgia School Nutrition Association’s Culinary Arts Competition.

Much like the popular Food Network Culinary Competition, “Iron Chef,” participants were judged on appearance, texture/consistency, flavor/seasoning, service temperature, and sanitation/food safety.

“I am so very proud of Tammy and her accomplishment,” said Colquitt County School Nutrition Director Monika Griner. “She sets a daily example as a leader in her profession. This is the first time that Colquitt County has won the state competition, but I do not expect for it to be the last. We have managers throughout that are professional and talented. Again, congratulations to Tammy Hart. She is our Iron Chef!”

The competition was held March 15 at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Tucker, Ga. Winners were named at the 2008 GSNA State Conference held in mid-April in Savannah. Hart took first place at the local level and district level before going on to compete at state.

The competition called for contestants to prepare their dishes so that all facets of the preparation can be viewed. Hart prepared her sweet potato salad while under the watchful eye of the judges, and took the title in the category of Carrot and/or Sweet Potato Vegetable Side Dish

Hart has been employed with the Colquitt County School Nutrition Department for nearly 18 years. She began as a school nutrition cashier at Funston Elementary and within the next year moved into a manager-in-training position. Hart served as the school nutrition manager for Funston for seven years and has been the school nutrition manager at Williams Middle School now for 10 years.

“Winning this competition was a big surprise and a great honor,” Hart said. “The School Nutrition Program has taught me a lot about the handling of food, nutrition and safety, but some of the best knowledge of cooking came from my mother. A special thank you goes to the Colquitt County Board of Education, the Colquitt County School Nutrition Program, my family and my mother.”

Hart is the daughter of Johnny Bozeman and the late Audrey Bozeman. She is married to Delane Hart and has one daughter, Courtney Thompson; a son-in-law, Michael; and a granddaughter, Nyla.

The purpose of the Georgia School Nutrition Culinary Arts Competition is to recognize and enhance culinary skills of school nutrition professionals, improve the quality of food products served to Georgia students and teachers, and to develop and provide tested, standardized recipes that are acceptable to customers.