February 4, 2009 - Canadian Culinary Federation

Edmonton Presents its second annual High School Culinary Challenge

13 Greater Edmonton high schools will compete at NAIT on Saturday, Feb. 7

Edmonton’s second annual High School Culinary Challenge will be held at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The competition encourages regional high school students to pursue rewarding careers in the culinary arts. This year, 13 high schools will compete – up from 10 last year. The competition is presented by the Canadian Culinary Federation Edmonton.

Each participating high school has entered a three-student team to create a three-course meal (soup, entrée and dessert) for six people in three hours. The courses will be plated and presented for judging. The top three student teams will be honoured at an awards lunch on March 4 in the Shaw Conference Centre’s Hall D.

The High School Culinary Challenge is a vision of Chef Simon Smotkowicz, Executive Chef of the Shaw Conference Centre and President of the Canadian Culinary Federation Edmonton.

“We hope this unique, challenging, hands-on competition will really stir high school students to seriously consider the many creative opportunities in our demanding profession,” says Smotkowicz.

The 39 competing students will have the opportunity to apply for specially-created scholarship - mentorship packages. Two students will receive scholarships for post-secondary tuition, uniforms, books and knives. They will also participate in a three-year mentorship program. Over the course of the three year apprenticeship, the students will work in some of the best kitchens in Greater Edmonton - the Red Ox Inn, Sage at River Cree Casino and Resort, and the Fantasy Grill - the Fantasyland Hotel's main dining room.

Sponsors for the second annual High School Culinary Challenge include: Alberta Food Processors, Chaine des Rôtisseurs Edmonton, Chef’s Hat Inc., Dawn Food Products Ltd., EPCOR, Fantasyland Hotel, Growing Alberta, Lilydale Inc., NAIT’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, River Cree Resort and Casino, and the Shaw Conference Centre.

The Canadian Culinary Federation is a not-for-profit association uniting chefs and cooks across Canada in a common dedication to professional excellence. The Canadian Culinary Federation (CCFCC) was founded in 1963.

Media Contacts:

Chef Simon Smotkowicz
Executive Chef, Shaw Conference Centre
(780) 917-7617

Stanley Townsend
Program Chair, Culinary Arts, NAIT
(780) 471-8694