Best Teen Chef 2008 Local Finalists - San Francisco
Elizabeth Counts
Golden Valley High School located in Merced, CA
The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco’s Best Teen Chef 2008
From a very early age, Elizabeth Counts was ready to explore the culinary world. Counts, the local level Best Teen Chef Competition winner at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco began cooking with her late grandfather, at the young age of three. Cooking epicurean delights – sans recipes – Counts and her grandfather inspired each other to create dishes and treats for their family to enjoy.
Counts, a senior at Golden Valley High School located in Merced, CA, enjoys cooking a variety of foods, steak being one of her favorites. “Steaks taste good and they are quick and simple.” She continues, “The secret is the spice, the less spice the better – you don’t sacrifice the flavor of the meat.”
Cooking provides Counts an outlet to unwind, “[cooking] relaxes me, it’s where I can slow down and show my creativity through food while making an edible art piece.”
Her career aspirations include opening her own restaurant called Red Rose. According to Counts, “…Red Rose will be a musically inspired small café serving California Cuisine with a ‘twist’..” She also hopes to be one of America’s top chefs; inspiring budding chefs to pursue a career in culinary arts.
Counts eagerly awaits her culinary education at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – San Francisco. “It will be great to learn new techniques and how to cook things I’ve never cooked before.”