Best Teen Chef 2008 Local Finalists - Charleston
Caleb David
The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Charleston’s Best Teen Chef 2008
Caleb David, a senior at Hartsville High School, says he was probably more of a pest in the kitchen than anything else for the longest time. “I asked question after question of my mother, grandmother and grandpa,” says Caleb. “I was curious about everything having to do with cooking, I couldn’t get enough.”
When he wasn’t bugging his family with cooking questions, Caleb would watch cooking shows on the Food Network to gain food knowledge. Although he likes many international dishes, he says “I tend to try and change the style of food that I cook each time since I am still in the learning stages... but I especially enjoy preparing Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. These recipes call for such strong flavors that American food sometimes lacks, so it’s just interesting to taste the different ingredients. Plus, these food styles are typically healthier than American food!”
Although Caleb admits he just started getting really serious with his cooking over the past year, “My family and friends are all for my spending time in the kitchen. I really like to bring people together by feeding them and love that they enjoy it. It’s my way of bringing a smile to their faces.”
His future plans? “My overall ambition is to open a high end fusion café. I want to concentrate on delivering meals that have flavors and techniques from around the globe.” Caleb adds, “I don’t want to restrict myself to just a limited style of food, but rather have an organized menu with variety.”
When he is not in school, Caleb takes violin lessons and studies Japanese intensively. During the summer, Caleb finds ways of giving time to help the community and finds it enjoyable to truly commit causes he believes in. He also enjoys hanging out with his friends.