Team GCPS goes to Korea at Mountain View High School

     Students and staff at Mountain View High School flocked to the school’s cafeteria recently to enjoy a flavorful journey inspired by Korean culture. The school welcomed celebrity chef Jet Tila to share his Korean Bibimbap Bowl dish.

Tila says when he has the opportunity to serve students, he thinks about how to blend classic flavors with what young people want.

     “At the school level, I think it's important to give the kids food that they want to eat, and they’re coming from the street-side restaurants that we all know, and they’re also coming from social media and television,” Tila shares. “So I believe that we’re creating classic and popular dishes that are made possible for high volume.”

     The bowl is lined with a bed of rice and savory bites of bulgogi beef, sauteed carrots, shitake mushrooms, spinach, pickled red onion, a dumpling, and a fried egg.

     Tila says that bringing cultural dishes like the Bibimbap bowl to students hits close to home, as he grew up in the restaurant his parents owned and was once in a similar situation to many in Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) diverse population.

     “For the Asian students specifically, I was one of these students, I was an English-immersion immigrant,” Tila shares. “I think my role is, for the students from other backgrounds, to spread culture. A lot of these kids watch Food Network and me on YouTube, so I think it’s exciting and makes them feel like they matter. When you bring in a celebrity chef and dishes they see on the streets and on social media, it creates excitement and participation.”

Those who enjoyed the bowl describe it as savory, flavorful, and satisfying.

     “It was very balanced, it has sweetness and savoriness, and it had a really great taste to it,” 10th-grader, Emily Sanchez says. “It was a great combination.”

“It was really good, I would definitely try it again,” says 9th-grader Miriam Garcia.

     Following his stop at Mountain View High, Tila took his dish to Café 437 at GCPS' J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center and district headquarters employees. “It is delicious,” Kondria Woods shares. “People were lined up, waiting to try it. I mixed the contents together as Chef Jet recommended and enjoyed every bite.”

     Tila is a chef with more than 10 years of experience, some of which was spent on America’s favorite Food Network shows like Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, and Iron Chef. He attended both French and Japanese culinary schools before appearing on television.

Check out our reel on the district's Instagram account.