Star Chefs of Tomorrow Set Their Sights on the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition
[Charleston, S.C.- March 25, 2009] – Hundreds of high school seniors turned budding chefs took the first step toward launching what could be the beginning of their professional culinary careers.
On Saturday, March 14, high school seniors from across the U.S. and Canada competed in Best Teen Chef Local Cook-off Competitions at participating International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes locations throughout North America including, The Art Institute of Charleston.
The winner of The Art institute of Charleston’s Best Teen Chef Local Cook-off Competition is Alexandra (“Alex”) Oken a senior at Blythewood High School from Blythewood, South Carolina.
Oken says, “I am happy, surprised and honored that I won the local cook off! I am excited about going to Charlotte, to participate in the National Competition. However, right now my focus is working with Art Institute of Charleston’s Chef Chris Stallard to perfect my skills so that we can shine at Nationals.” Oken has had a lifelong passion for cooking and adds, “I would like to say thank you to the instructors and staff at the Art Institute of Charleston for all the encouragement and support that they have shown me since day one. I know that the Art Institute of Charleston will assist and support me in making my vision of becoming a chef a certainty. Also a special thanks to Chef Turner at Blythewood High School for going above and beyond along with taking me under his wing.”
Winning second place was Miles Rittinghouse from Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, S.C. The third place award went to Sara Long from Leesville High School in Leesville, S.C.
The 34 Local Cook-off Competition winners will proceed to the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition on Saturday, May 9, at The Art Institute of Charlotte. The top prize winner in the Competition can earn a full-tuition scholarship toward a bachelor’s degree, an associate's degree, certificate program or diploma program to study Culinary Arts at one of the more than 30 participating Art Institutes locations.
In addition to a full-tuition scholarship and the title of Best Teen Chef 2009, the national first place winner, in partnership with Food Network, will be an "Intern for a Day" at Food Network Kitchens in New York City. The winner will also receive a tour of Food Network's studios, dinner for two at a Food Network chef's restaurant and a library of Food Network Kitchens cookbooks.
The Art Institutes created the Best Teen Chef competition in 2000 to encourage and recognize young culinary talent. According to The Art Institute of Charleston’s Director of Culinary Chef Susan Wigley, “The interest in culinary arts among young people has literally soared in recent years.” Wigley explains, “This is due to many factors, among them, working parents, the proliferation of cooking shows on television, and the desire to participate in family traditions.”
For more information on the Best Teen Chef Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/pr.aspx?ID=btc095 or contact Brittanie McPherson at lmcpherson@aii.edu.
The Art Institute of Charleston offers both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees (depending on the area of study) and offers programs in culinary arts, wine, spirits and beverage, graphic design, interior design, web design & interactive media, photographic imaging, fashion & retail management and digital filmmaking & video production.
The Art Institute of Charleston is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.
PHOTO CAPTION:
BEST TEEN CHEF LOCAL WINNERS FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHARLESTON CAMPUS, FROM LEFT SARA LONG (3RD PLACE), MILES RITTINGHOUSE (2ND PLACE), ALEX OKEN (FIRST PLACE). ALEX GOES ON TO COMPETE FOR THE NATIONAL TITLE AND A FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIP IN CHARLOTTE, N.C. ON MAY 9.