HIGH SCHOOL CHEFS-IN-TRAINING
TURN FLOUR INTO GOLD

The countdown is on and 36 top culinary finalists representing public high schools from across Greater Los Angeles will compete against the clock. Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) will create the intensity of a real restaurant kitchen for a select group of L.A.’s high school seniors this Friday, May 18 at Los Angeles Mission College as they face off in an exciting savory and sweet cooking challenge where each competitor will prepare a classic two-course French meal of Hunter’s Chicken with Tourné Potatoes and Dessert Crepes within a two-hour time limit for a portion of over $600,000 in culinary scholarships to both premier local culinary colleges and to some of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country.

The C-CAP Cooking Competitions for Scholarships are hosted across the country and are the culmination of the C-CAP high school program for underserved teenagers at risk of leaving high school without a job or college prospects.  The C-CAP program offers direction, a set of useful skills, scholarships, and the potential for a fulfilling career in a growing industry.

Los Angeles students competing in C-CAP’s Cooking Competition for Scholarships will not only be critiqued on the taste and presentation of each of their dishes, but also on their organization, sanitation, work flow, timing, technique and skill.

This year’s C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships Top Judges will include:

• Chef Aaron Robbins, Soca, Boneyard Bistro
• Chef Tony Salazar, Porto’s Bakery & Café
• Chef Matthieu Chamussy, Porto’s Bakery & Café
• Chef Sandra Cordero, Gasolina Café (Woodland Hills, Oxnard), Pancake (Oxnard)
• Chef Jet Tila, Floor Reporter, Iron Chef, Author, 101 Asian Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die
• Chef Jason McClain, Executive Chef, Jonathan Club
• Chef Suzanne Tracht, Jar Restaurant
• Katteryn Hernandez, Sr. Operations Manager Wolfgang Puck Catering, C-CAP Alumna, Speaker at C-CAP Awards Breakfast
• Chef Kyle Johnson, Executive Chef, Bourbon Steak
• Chef Jonathan Solis, Executive Chef, Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel, C-CAP Alumnus
• Chef Ted Hopson, The Bellwether
• Chef Alex Porter, Executive Sous Chef, Jonathan Club
• Chef Della Gossett, Pastry Chef, Spago
• Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish
• Chef Juan Torres, Executive Chef, Manhattan House, C-CAP Alumnus

This year's 2018 C-CAP Los Angeles Region High Schools and Students Participating in the Competition will include:

Arroyo High School
Cam'Ron Anderson
Justin Phan

Baldwin Park High School
Angelica Cervantes
Dyanne Contreras
Brandon Guerrero
Jennifer Orona
Athena Ruiz

Banning High School
Franki Bellhouse-Garcia

Birmingham High School
Ruby Castillo

Carson High School
Traivona Jordan

Dorsey High School
Monique Malone

Glendale High School
Kelsey Hulguin
Joaquin Johnson

Golden Valley High School
Elijah Vines

Granada Hills Charter High School
Erin Borja
Sammantha Pitpit

John Muir High School
Mion Pointer

Nathaniel Narbonne High School
Michael Perez

Monroe High School
Heidi Reyes

Pacifica High School
April Chavez-Betancourt
Juan Sarabia-Cota
Eric Karpowich
Odalys Mena

Rio Mesa High School
Mireya Rivera Hernandez

S.O.C.E.S.
Gregory Amaya
Lukas Araneta
Zachary Collins
Algin Dabu
Eugene Galapin

San Fernando High School
Jazlyn Corral Botello

Sylmar High School
Joseph Lopez

Vasquez High School
Melinda Lewis
MariaJose Otero
Andrew Rees

West Ranch High School
Jordan Bullard

Y.O.U. High School
Verania Gonzalez

This year’s competitors have been chosen by their performance in a preliminary competition, their academic records, writing a personal essay, and their desire to pursue a post-secondary education and to forge a career in the food service industry. Students will be competing for scholarship awards and opportunities including over $600,000 full-and-partial tuition to premier local culinary colleges and to some of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country.

The results of the C-CAP Los Angeles Cooking Competition for Scholarships will be revealed to participants at the annual C-CAP Awards Breakfast on Monday, May 21 at the Jonathan Club, L.A.’s premier private social club located in Downtown Los Angeles.