Star Chefs of Tomorrow Set Their Sights on the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition
Local High School Seniors Compete in the Kitchen for Scholasrhip Money
[SANTA MONICA, CA - March 18, 2009] – This weekend, 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 California, Los Angeles, where sixteen high school students from Southern California demonstrated their culinary skills to a distinguished panel of judges.
The aspiring chefs prepared a two-course meal for the judges. Focusing on technique and knife skills, each participant created a shrimp cocktail appetizer and chicken breast entrée, served with broccoli sauté, and rice pilaf. Students were given a variety of ingredients to use to season their food, and create sauces and garnishes for their dishes.
“I was impressed by the level of talent exhibited at this competition by these high school students. These young students represent the future of the culinary and restaurant industries, and I look forward to tasting their food, and reviewing their restaurants someday,” said Sophie Gayot of Gayot.com, which serves as a professional resource on dining and travel on an international level. Other judges included Chef Daniel Drumlake, Assistant Academic Director at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles, Chef Daniel Murray, alumnus and faculty instructor at The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles, Chef Zach Saunders of Three on Fourth Restaurant in Santa Monica, and Pastry Chef Kristianne Descher of Max’s Restaurant in Sherman Oaks and Boho in Hollywood.
The judges selected Oscar Melendez, a senior at John H. Francis Polytechnic High in Sun Valley as the winner of The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles’ Best Teen Chef Local Cook-off Competition. Second place was awarded to Federico Castaneda of Santee Education Complex in Los Angeles and third place to Derek Flores of John Marshall High School in Los Angeles.
“One of the reasons why I am interested in the culinary field is because there are no limits on what you can learn and what you can create. This competition exposed me to new challenges and allowed me to showcase my own skills. Wining this competition inspires me to want to learn more – I am excited to take what I have already learned from this experience and apply it at the national competition,” commented Melendez on his experience with the Best Teen Chef competition.
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 Chef Christophe Bernard, Academic Director at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles, “The interest in culinary arts among young people has literally soared in recent years.” Bernard 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 Michelle Estrellado at The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles (mestrellado@aii.edu or 310.314.6019) for additional information.
The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles 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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