The best and brightest young chefs and bakers in Eastern Ontario are preparing to do battle at Algonquin College on Friday.
Students from 17 high schools will be participating in Algonquin College’s third annual High School Culinary Championships — with a chance to show off their kitchen skills and win a scholarship to study culinary arts at the College, which has produced some of Canada’s top chefs.

“We are so excited to welcome these aspiring chefs to our campus,” said Chef Sean Edwards, an instructor in Algonquin College’s culinary program and the organizer of the event. “The contest is very demanding, but it gives students a chance to really see what it’s like to work in a professional kitchen and pick up skills that will serve them well in the real world. And it’s also a lot of fun.”

The competition, for students in Grades 9 to 12, is divided into two divisions — hot food and baking. In the hot food contest, students are asked to prepare an appetizer and entrée, and in the baking division students will be making apple pies, cookies and dinner rolls.

Top placing teams will be awarded medals and tuition scholarships for the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College. Judging panels include Algonquin instructors and industry professionals.

The contest gets underway at 9 a.m. with an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m.

Photo credit: Jana Chytilova, Algonquin College