Valley teens compete in culinary showdown
Adrik Vargas
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The pressure was on and the frosting was flying at the Third Annual Culinary Skills Event hosted by Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program at the Cambria Hotel in Imperial.
High school students from Calexico, Brawley, and Calipatria competed in a full day of challenges designed to showcase their creativity and culinary talents.
From knife skills to entrée prep and cake decorating, the competition gave these aspiring chefs a taste of the industry.
“We’re definitely nervous, we’ve stood here for like an hour,” said Mia Romero, one of the participants, as she waited for judges to evaluate her team’s cake.
Despite the nerves, students pushed through the stress and the icing.
“We had to find space on the top because the birds took too much space, and the flowers kept falling apart,” said Jesus Rodriguez Andrade, laughing about what it took to pull it all together.
In the end, the event was more than just a competition, it was a chance for students to learn, grow, and imagine their future in the culinary world.