Inland Empire Teen Chef Wins Trip to National Finals in Dallas for The Art Institutes' Best Teen Chef Competition

(San Bernardino, Calif. – Marc 24, 2007) Lizeth Talavera of Phelan showed a cool head in a hot kitchen as she won the local The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire’s Best Teen Chef competition for the Inland Empire region. A senior at Henry J. Kaiser High School in Fontana, Talavera beat out fellow contestant Richard “Rico” Robinson of Helendale.

Both contestants prepared a meal of chicken, sautéed rice and vegetables. They were judged on taste, cleanliness, organization and presentation. Talavera won a $3,000 scholarship to attend The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire and an all expenses paid trip for two to the National Teen Chef competition, to be held on May 5, 2007, at The Art Institute of Dallas. Robinson won a $2,000 scholarship to attend The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. The first prize for the national winner is a $40,000 scholarship.

Talavera said she developed an interest in cooking from watching her stepfather who also enjoys cooking. “I like cooking Mexican and Mediterranean food,” she said. Talavera said she intends to take her mother, Graciela Robles, with her to the finals in Dallas. Robles said Talavera started cooking when she was five. “She was very nervous. This was her first competition,” Robles said. “I think she cooked very well.”

Chef Eyad Joseph, director of the school’s Culinary Arts program, oversaw a team of judges who made the final decision. “We had two great competitors – they both did extremely well, but we can only send one to Dallas and Lizeth showed that she has the talent and focus to succeed in the national event,” he said.


Talavera will join 22 other high school seniors from around the country who will travel on to Dallas. In all, the The Art Institutes will award more than $250,000 in tuition scholarships.

Participating Art Institute campuses include The Art Institute of Atlanta, The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles, The Art Institute of California – Orange County, The Art Institute of California – San Diego, The Art Institute of Charlotte, The Art Institute of Colorado, The Art Institute of Dallas, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, The Art Institute of Houston, The Art Institute of Indianapolis, The Culinary Institute of Las Vegas, a division of The Art Institute of Las Vegas, The Art Institutes International Minnesota, The Art Institute of New York City, The Art Institute of Philadelphia, The Art Institute of Phoenix, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, The Art Institute of Seattle, The Art Institute of Tennessee – Nashville, The Art Institute of Tampa, The Art Institute of Vancouver, The Art Institute of Washington and The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago.

For more information on the Best Teen Chef Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/btc



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The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with 34 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. For more information about The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, call (909) 915-2100 or visit www.aii.edu/inlandempire.