Do you know a budding teen chef? If yes, can you send them to my house to help me prepare spring rolls for 20 this Saturday? I kid! I kid! No, seriously…

In any case, the Art Institutes is holding a nation-wide competition to find the best of the best in teen chefs. On April 12th, local competitions will be held, and the winners will head to Las Vegas for the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition on May 17th. Yeah, underage people in Vegas. Cooking. Should be a squeaky-clean good time.

Top prize winners win a full tuition scholarship for an associate’s degree, certificate, or diploma from the Culinary Arts program at one of the Art Institutes locations. Not too shabby. Remember kids, free money is the best money.

According to their press release: In addition to a full-tuition scholarship and the title of Best Teen Chef 2008, the first place winner in the national competition, in partnership with Food Network, will be an “Intern for a Day” at the Food Network Kitchens in New York City. The winner will also receive a tour of the Food Network Studios, dinner for two at a Food Network chef’s restaurant and a library of Food Network Kitchens cookbooks.

Lovely!

I especially love how the competitors at the Local Cook-Off Competition will compete in timed heats preparing shrimp cocktail, sauteed breast of chicken, fresh broccoli, and rice pilaf. I know they’re just young ‘uns, but seriously, is it brain surgery to prepare fresh broccoli?

If you are ahead of the game and already have your culinary degree, why not check out the Chef David Gilbert Intern Search for your chance to work under a top chef?