Star Chefs of Tomorrow Set Their Sights on the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition

[SAN FRANCISCO, MARCH 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 – San Francisco.

The winner of The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco’s Best Teen Chef Local Cook-off Competition is Kellianne Saporita, a Senior at Oakdale High School from Tracy, California.

Kellianne says she loves to experiment and have fun with recipes when cooking. She finds inspiration in the kitchen from her mother, who taught her to cook a variety of dishes and cuisines. But this future chef can get back to basics as well, saying her favorite meal to prepare and eat is “steak, a big helping of vegetables, and homemade mashed potatoes.”

Kellianne and the other 33 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 Linda Carucci, Chef Director, “The interest in culinary arts among young people has literally soared in recent years.” Carucci 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 Jennifer Tomaro, Public Relations Director at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco, by phone at 415.276.1030 or by e-mail at jtomaro@aii.edu for additional information.