Minnesota Teen Sets Sight on the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition

PRLog (Press Release) – May 13, 2008 – On Saturday, April 12, 2008, high school seniors from across the U.S. and Canada competed in Best Teen Chef Local Cook-off Competitions at participating The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes locations throughout North America including, The Art Institutes International Minnesota. The winner of The Art Institutes International Minnesota’s Best Teen Chef Local Cook-off Competition is Bailey Kimitch, a senior at Eden Prairie High School from Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Bailey Kimitch has the proud support of her family, friends and teachers; they were very excited when she was selected for the Best Teen Chef 2008 local competition. Bailey has already begun taking culinary classes through the Advanced Placement program at Hennepin Technical College. Bailey has had an interest in the Culinary Arts since the third grade and experiences a sense of “inner calm” when working in the kitchen. Bailey continues to be inspired by her mom, who baked bread at home, and by Julia Child. After graduation, Bailey aspires to become a Pastry Chef and plans on building her baking and pasty skills; she wants to experience all she can before making any culinary career decisions.

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 student 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 Amy Carter, Culinary Arts Instructor at The Art Institutes International Minnesota, “The interest in culinary arts among young people has literally soared in recent years.” Chef Carter 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=btc007 or contact an Admissions Representative at The Art Institutes International Minnesota at 1-800-777-3643 for additional information.

The Art Institutes International Minnesota 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.