Westchester boy wins recipe contest, meets First Lady

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (WABC) -- An 11-year-old from Westchester County got the chance of a lifetime.

He created a recipe served at the White House.

"Even though you think you're done, you've got to check to see if you're really, really done," said Michael Lombardi, Jr., the recipe winner.

Michael Lombardi is a perfectionist in the kitchen, juicing a tangerine, and measuring out soy sauce.

"I just like to cook. I also like to cook gluten free cookies and tacos," Lombardi said.

His recipe for chicken and vegetable dumpling cups is getting all the attention.

It's the New York State winner of the healthy lunchtime challenge sponsored by Epicurious, and for Michael that meant a trip to the White House this month.

"I was holding my head I guess and I said seriously? And I was like, pinch me," Lombardi said.

Michael entered a chicken cutlet contest last year, but this year his dumpling cups made with gluten free rice crepes did the trick.

"I worked with my aunt and the idea formed when I was thinking about Chinese dumplings, whenever my grandparents took me there after a good report card," Lombardi said.

His aunt is gluten free and she accompanied him to the White House.

"It was very fancy," Lombardi said.

The kids, 54 in all, were treated to a state dinner, or lunch, and Michael's recipe was on the menu! And then was Mrs. Obama.

"She was very nice and then the President came in, I didn't remember it," Lombardi said.

Who could blame Michael, there was a lot going on, and back home his whole family is beaming.

For the recipe please visit: http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2014/07/15/mike%E2%80%99s-chicken-and-vegetable-dumpling-cups