Wyoming High School Senior wins Chef Competition in Chicago

Chicago, Ill. - When Erik Johnson was about 8 years old he made his first pound cake. Johnson didn't follow the recipe and cranked the oven's temperature too high. The results were less than stellar, but he seems to have bounced back from that culinary mishap.

On Saturday, March 14, Johnson was one of hundreds of high school seniors from across the U.S. and Canada to compete in Best Teen Chef Local Cook-off Competitions at participating Art Institutes schools throughout North America. 

The 18-year-old Natrona County High School senior received first place honors at the local Best Teen Chef Competition held at The International Culinary School at The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago and will now go on to face top local winners from around the country in hopes of becoming the 2009 Best Teen Chef.

Johnson is no stranger to the kitchen. He's worked as the broil/grill cook at Casper Country Club for the past year.

He'll go up against the 33 other local Cook-off Competition winners at 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 Mark Facklam Culinary Director at The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago, "The interest in culinary arts among young people has literally soared in recent years."  Facklam 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 and to interview Erik Johnson, please contact Natalia Derevyanny at 312.777-8640 or nderevyanny@aii.edu.

The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago 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 professionals.

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