Kolbie Hefner, a senior from Pampa High School, in Pampa, Texas, is proud to be The Art Institute of Houston’s Best Teen Chef. She started cooking at a young age, helping in the kitchen whenever she could. “I loved being in the center of all the smells, flavors and ingredients that you can mix together to create something completely brand new,” Hefner recalls.
Cooking continued to be a family affair as Hefner began working for her aunt, who owned a high-end restaurant. Under her tutelage and that of another executive chef, she began honing her skills and gaining confidence in her ultimate career goal.
Even though much of Kolbie’s life revolves around becoming a professional chef, she finds a lot of enjoyment in cooking for her family. “I enjoy making meals that make my family happy. I practice on them all the time,” she says. “They are my guinea pigs, so to speak! My mom says that she will be glad when I become a real chef and show them all the new things that I have learned.”
Hefner is excited to come to The Art Institute of Houston to earn associate’s degrees in Culinary Arts and in Baking & Pastry.