Steven Maranto graduated in January from Skyline High School, Salt Lake City, Utah. His first memories of the kitchen began with his Italian grandmother who loved to cook authentic dishes. Steven watched his father recreate some of the recipes he grew up with and thus began his love for cooking. Steve loves to cook polenta, a popular Italian side dish which can be found on the menu of high-end restaurants. His favorite dish to cook is homemade ravioli made with spinach and ricotta cheese. Everything is made from scratch, including the noodles.
Steven loves to spend his free-time outdoors in the Rocky Mountains, hiking and rock climbing in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. He loves being outdoors; the natural beauty and fresh air give him a sense of freedom.
Steven comes from a big family, where food plays an important role in family gatherings.
His family is excited that he has this opportunity to compete in The Art Institutes Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition