Charleston Celebrity Chefs Judge Caleb David Best Teen Chef at The Art Institute of Charleston Cook-off Competition
Contact: Paige Crone
24 N. Market Street
Charleston, S.C. 29401
843-343-1223 or 843-727-3555
pccrone@aii.edu
Charleston Celebrity Chefs Judge Caleb David Best Teen Chef at The Art Institute of Charleston Cook-off Competition
Star Chefs of Tomorrow Set Their Sights on the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition
[CHARLESTON, April 16, 2008] – On Saturday, April 12, 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 Charleston. Caleb David of Hartsville, S.C., a senior at Hartsville High School, cooked to please some of Charleston’s most sophisticated palates and top chefs including Sean Brock (McCrady’s), Tarver King (Woodlands), Mike Lata (FIG), Russ Moore (Slightly North of Broad) and Michelle Weaver (Charleston Grill).
Caleb won a $3,000 scholarship to The Art Institute of Charleston and to sweeten the deal, Mickey Bakst, general manager of Charleston Grill who emceed the award ceremony, surprised everyone by offering David employment at the five-star restaurant once he moved to Charleston and started at The Art Institute.
David whose goal is to one day open his own upscale fusion café, said, “I really only started cooking seriously this past year. I still can’t believe I won, it’s absolutely surreal.” David added, “I really got interested in cooking because my grandmother loved Paula Dean on the Food Network and then I got interested in the show and saw how cooking could bring friends and family together and truly make people happy!”
Second place winner was Nicholas Soloff of Summerville High School, third place winner was Nicholas Werts of Ninety-Six High School, other finalists included Nicole Barschaw of Fuquay-Varina High School (N.C.), and Austin Coomes of South Aiken High School.
The 31 Local Cook-off Competition winners will proceed to the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition on Saturday, May 17, at The Art Institute of Las Vegas.
Top prize winners in the Competition can win a full-tuition scholarship toward an associate's degree, certificate 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 2008, the first place winner in the national competition, in partnership with Food Network, will be an "Intern for a Day" at the Food Network Kitchens in New York City. The winner will also receive a tour of the Food Network 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 Susan Wigley, culinary academic director at The Art Institute of Charleston, “The interest in culinary arts among young people has literally soared in recent years. 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=btc007 or contact The Art Institute of Charleston (843) 727-3500.
The Art Institute of Charleston 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.