Teens Cook like they are on Top Chefs

March 13, 2012 - PRLog -- KENNESAW (March, 2012) - Imagine having one hour to butcher a chicken, demonstrate five precision knife cuts and then create a three-course fine dining meal for two that will be judged by the best Executive chefs in Atlanta!  Now do this, as a teenager without running water or electricity.  Competitions are difficult under the best of circumstances; this one is a Top Chef Challenge.

Teams of five dedicated students work for up to a year to compete in this high speed, high steaks challenge.  The HEFG State Championships attracts nearly 200 high school juniors and seniors from high schools throughout Georgia.  Students compete in either the Culinary Arts or ProStart Management competition.  Every student competing will receive a scholarship to college and the winners earn tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships, bragging rights, trophies, and the right to represent Georgia at the National Restaurant Association’s ProStart Invitational in Baltimore in April 2012.  The Chefs judges include Chef Thomas McKeown, Grand Hyatt, Chef Alexander Busch, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Chef Abbinanti, Georgia Dome, Chef Heather Hurlbert, Top Cheftestant, and many many more.

The Management competition teams design restaurants from the ground up and present their business proposals to a panel of judges that include Kat Cole, President of Cinnabon Inc., Ralph Bower, Chief Operating Officer, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, and many others. Each of these esteemed judges will act as potential investors in the students’ concepts and determine which concept to good enough to earn the team the right to represent Georgia at the National Restaurant Association’s ProStart Invitational in Baltimore in April 2012.

In 2011, Team Georgia’s Culinary team won 3rd place at the National competition.

To be sure, these aren’t your run of the mill home economics classes; these are hard-core culinary arts classes where passionate public school students destined for culinary greatness are taught professional procedures and are judged by the best in our industry.

WHERE:  Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Road Northwest  Kennesaw, GA 30144

WHEN:  Friday, March 23, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Winners announced: 5:00-6:00 pm

ABOUT HEFG:  Established in 1989, The Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia (HEFG) is a 501(c)3 whose dedicated to providing direct support for the education of hospitality and foodservice students, by facilitating industry experiences and connecting the classroom with industry professionals and resources. Shaping students' future with real world experiences will develop the best members for our industry and the community.

Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia:  Connecting Passion to Careers

Georgia ProStart Competition Teams:
Alpharetta High School
Charles Drew High School
Grayson Technical High School
Grovetown High School
Heard County High School
Houston County Career Academy
Marietta High School
Maxwell High School   Meadowcreek High School
North Murray High School
North Cobb High School
Pope High School
South Forsyth High School
Wheeler High School
West Forsyth High School