Little Rock 6th-grader's recipe on menu at White House

Her edamame salad an appetizer at Kids’ State Dinner

Lily Radtke, 12, of Little Rock
Lily Radtke, 12, of Little Rock

WASHINGTON -- The White House borrowed a recipe from a Little Rock sixth-grader Thursday, serving Lily Radtke's edamame salad and spring rolls to a room full of guests, including celebrity chef Rachael Ray.

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This dish of edamame salad and spring rolls, created using a recipe by Lily Radtke, 12, of Little Rock, was one of the courses served Thursday at the 2016 Kids’ State Dinner at the White House.

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AP

Lily Radtke, 12, and her mother Catherine, both from Little Rock, arrive Thursday for the 2016 Kids’ State Dinner at the White House in Washington. The event is hosted by first lady Michelle Obama and is part the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge inviting 8-to 12-year-olds across the country to create healthy, affordable, original and delicious lunch recipes.

First lady Michelle Obama shared the Asian in Arkansas appetizers at the fifth-annual Kids' State Dinner, an event for aspiring young chefs from across the country.

The 12-year-old's creation was served on Reagan-era red, white and gold White House china. A presidential seal decorated each plate.

The Episcopal Collegiate School student said she didn't realize they'd be eating her salad and rolls until she arrived at her table.

"When I walked in and I saw it there, I'm like, 'No way. This can't be happening. My dish is being served in the White House.' ... I was just out of words, I was so excited," she said.

Lily's creation was the second item on the menu, tucked between Alexandra's Refreshing Watermelon Salad and Hannah's Sweet and Savory Chicken and Peaches.

There were seven courses overall, if you count the thick, algae-colored Spinach Smoothie.

"You can't really taste the spinach. It tasted more like strawberries because it had a lot of fruit in it. It was really good," Lily said.

Lily was joined at her table by her mother, Catherine Radtke, and by Tina Tchen, the first lady's chief of staff.

While they dined, a Marine Corps band performed, playing -- among other things -- the theme song from Sesame Street.

Lily, who will begin seventh grade this fall, also briefly encountered Ray.

"She didn't talk, but I got a picture with her which was, like, pretty amazing. I can't wait to go home and show my friends," she said. "Whenever I watch her shows, I learn a lot from her, so I was really glad I finally got to meet her."

During Lily's visit, she also visited briefly with the first lady.

"She said she loved my dress and my recipe sounded really good and it sounded really fresh and said she was excited that I was here," Lily recalled. She wore a black dress with a yellow-flower necklace.

More than 1,200 students entered the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, which encourages young students "to create a healthy, affordable, original and delicious lunch recipe."

Children between the ages of 8 and 12 were eligible to apply.

Entries had to comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recommended nutrition guidance and include "each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy."

The winners, one from each state and territory, received an invitation to the White House and the opportunity to meet the president's wife.

Before eating, Michelle Obama thanked the children for promoting well-balanced meals.

"You are part of a network of extraordinary young people who are leading a movement for healthy eating all across the country," she said.

Contestants were encouraged to use ingredients from their state, so Lily's included edamame -- a type of soybean grown in Arkansas -- as well as rice. She also submitted a recipe for watermelon skewers.

"They're just all ingredients that she loves," Lily's mother said. "It's things she would cook normally, and she just kind of tweaked her recipe."

Lily likes culinary challenges, her mother said.

"She's just an adventurous eater and kind of has a knack for how to put flavors together. She's just creative in that respect," Catherine Radtke said. "I can't even put it into words how proud I am of her. ... It really was a life-changing experience for her."

Metro on 07/15/2016

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