High School Chefs Turn up the Heat

Enter The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes Best Teen Chef Competition 2009

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ — The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes are summoning the best teen chefs across the U.S. and Canada to strut their culinary chops in The Art Institutes Best Teen Chef Competition 2009.

The top prize winner will receive a full-tuition scholarship toward a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, certificate program or diploma program to study culinary arts at one of the more than 30 participating Art Institutes locations.

Now in its tenth year, the Best Teen Chef Competition awards more than $250,000 in tuition scholarships to The Art Institutes schools to high school seniors in the U.S. and Canada interested in pursuing a career in the fast growing culinary industry.

Local cook-off competitions will take place at participating locations of The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes on March 14, 2009.

First place local winners will progress to the National Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition, which will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at The Art Institute of Charlotte.

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.

For Brent Lewis, the first-ever Best Teen Chef winner from Loveland, Colorado, the competition “was an amazing opportunity to meet kids from all over the country with the same ambition as you.”

To be eligible to enter the competition, high school seniors must first submit a completed Entry and Release form by February 6, 2009 to a participating The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes location where they wish to enter the competition or fill out an online entry form at www.artinstitutes.edu/pr.aspx?ID=btc093. Deadline for complete entries into the competition is February 20, 2009.

For more information on The Best Teen Chef Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/pr.aspx?ID=btc093.

About The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes

The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes is North America‘s largest system of culinary programs with over 30 locations.

Based on classical Escoffier, Asian and Latin culinary techniques, with an emphasis on progressive trends and practices, the schools’ curriculum are designed to develop and sharpen fundamental cooking techniques and professional skills and introduce a variety of international cuisines. Internships, student-run school restaurants, guest lectures and Web-based seminars, and study abroad programs help broaden the scope of learning for students.

Program offerings vary at each school. Prospective students should check the course offerings at The Art Institute school they are interested in attending before enrolling. To learn more about The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/culinary or www.exploreculinary.com.

About The Art Institutes

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals.

SOURCE The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes