The contest on Saturday was a classic case of quality over quantity. Texas was bigger, but Kansas was better.
Fifteen of the 16 contestants in the 2008 Best Teen Chef Contest in Dallas were from Texas, Emporian and competing chef Aldo Sandoval said. Sandoval, the 16th chef, was the Kansas entry.
It was he who came home the winner — Best Teen Chef title, a $10,000 tuition scholarship to the Art Institutes Culinary Arts school and the right to go to Las Vegas for the national competition and a shot at a $50,000 tuition scholarship and being an Intern for the Day in the Food Network Kitchens, in addition to other benefits and smaller prize items.
“I was the only one from Kansas, and I beat ’em all,” he said, grinning broadly.
Sandoval, an Emporia High School senior, is a student in Marie Malone’s Culinary Arts class at the Flint Hills Technical College. He also takes general education college courses to get a step up on college for next year. He works weekends, cooking at the Golden Corral restaurant.
“I was really nervous,” Aldo said of the time leading up to the contest in Dallas. “I couldn’t sleep the night before — and the night after.”
The cooking contest itself was not as difficult as he’d feared. He had no problem cutting down recipes for 20 to recipes for 2 and preparing his “Mise en Place,” a laying-out of all the cooking equipment he’d need for the meal, measuring all of the ingredients and figuring out in what order he needed to cook the food to finish all of it simultaneously in four hours.
Judging was based heavily on knife skills, creativity and ingenuity in artistic presentation using only materials provided by contest sponsors and, naturally, the quality of the food prepared.
Aldo’s parents, Eva and Eduardo Sandoval, accompanied their son to Dallas.
He remembered a conversation with his mother before the contest.
“I said, ‘Mom, are you going to cry if I win?’ and she was, like, ‘No,’” he said; “— and she did.”
Aldo had cooked a mountain of omelets, one at a time, on April 9 at the Tallgrass Cafe to earn the money for expenses to go to Las Vegas.
The win in Dallas brought him $10,000 toward the first-year cost of the school, $25,000, and he’s itching to try for the $50,000 tuition scholarship.
He wasn’t sure Tuesday morning, however, whether he would be able to organize another fundraiser for the Las Vegas trip for the May 18 contest. The date coincides with Aldo’s high school graduation, but he said he will be in Las Vegas to compete instead of walking across the stage to receive a diploma.
He said he’ll worry about how to get to Nevada in a few days. In the meantime, he’s just basking in the afterglow of a major win.
“I was on Cloud Nine all weekend,” Aldo said.
Absolute (anonymous) says...
That is great!!! Congrats.
April 17, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlando (anonymous) says...
He is a very deserving young man. very personable. Best of luck in the Vegas competition!
April 17, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlando (anonymous) says...
Will this competition be on the Food Network?
May 7, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Orlando, good question. Wouldn't it be great if the competition were presented on the Food Network? I love the Food Network; in fact, once the FN came to Emporia, I noticed many more specialty items in the grocery store. For example, I asked for years for Italian parsley and was told it wasn't available, or worse yet, there was no call for it. Suddenly, Dillons and Walmart can't seem to keep enough of it on hand. Wish Reebles could keep it on hand.
May 7, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )