Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI) alum and SWOCC Foundation scholarship recipient Elena Smith is competing in the 2022 Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition. It is taking place in Mexico City October 5 – 9, 2022. Elena is representing the United States in this prestigious culinary competition designed to support and promote future young chefs.
The first competition organized in 1977 with the goal of providing an opportunity for young chefs to demonstrate their skills. The event continues to grow annually and has been featured on the TV Food Network and CNN.
In the United States, competition begins at the provincial level. Proprietors, managers, chefs and culinary instructors at Chaîne affiliated restaurants, hotels, culinary schools and Chaîne members within each of the ten regions can propose candidates. Contestants are then selected.
Southwestern’s OCCI students are no strangers to this competition! OCCI alum Reilly Meehan represented the United States in 2011 and went on to win the International Young Chef Competition put on by the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. He remains the only American to do so.
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