Young Punahou pupil’s dessert makes the cut

Luca Casano isn’t afraid to aim high. After being selected Hawaii’s representative in first lady Michelle Obama’s fourth annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ “State Dinner,” AND touring the White House, AND meeting one of the nation’s leading sustainable-food chefs, he still had enough gumption to hope his winning dish — Chinese Pot Stickers — would make it onto the luncheon menu.

“I wanted to get my actual lunch on there,” he said with a tinge of disappointment in his voice. “But I was happy that my sorbet was included for dessert. They did a good job with it.”

Luca, 11, discussed the July 10 White House meal via phone Wednesday from Philadelphia while on a family vacation.

The Punahou student submitted an entire meal for the contest, the dumplings accompanied by a Tuscan kale salad and finished off with Aloha Sorbet, comprising fresh pineapple and papaya, lemon juice and local honey. Luca said the meal represented his Chinese and Italian heritages and his home state.

The D.C. experience was “awesome,” said Luca. “When we entered the White House, I couldn’t believe we were actually there. I got to meet the first lady and take a picture with her.”

The young winners, from all 50 states, the four U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, also had a pizza party. The event included a cooking demo by James Beard award-winning chef Michel Nischan, a national leader in the sustainable-food movement. Nischan spoke about fresh food and shopping at a Washington, D.C., farmers market for the produce he used in a multicolored tomato salad — “there were even purple ones!” said Luca.

The group also visited Julia Child’s Kitchen, an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

But the highlight for Luca was during the meal itself, when President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance.

“He was shaking everyone’s hands. He asked me about Punahou (the president’s alma mater) and whether Castle Hall was knocked down,” said Luca. “That’s the fourth- and fifth-grade building, and it’s still there. That’s where he was in fifth grade. It’s REALLY old.”