Pendisha Gelin, an 11th-grade student at Eight Mile Rock High School, and Amina Eneas, a seventh-grade student at Akhepran International Academy, are the winners of the 2022 Bahamas Young Chef Culinary Competition.
Pendisha, a budding cook, took home the senior championship. Her Junkanoo risotto with pan-seared grouper (rice dish) and lobster trap (flour dish) propelled her to victory and the senior high school floating trophy to the school's Grand Bahama campus.
The kid, who entered the competition to achieve a boyhood desire, was awarded a $10,000 scholarship to Johnson and Wales University (JWU) for the autumn semester of 2024, which is renewable for up to four years. She also received a free enrollment certificate for the Career Explorations Program, which permits her to attend JWU Summer 2023 at either the Providence or Charlotte campuses.
Participants gain a firsthand look of living at JWU during the course of two days of academics. Participants meet teachers, chat with current students, and do other things during career exploration visits. Participants spend three nights on campus. Housing, all meals, educational materials, activities, and on-campus transportation are all included in the program.
Her other awards include a $1,750 cash scholarship and gold medal from Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour, the Keith and Sara Parker Founder's Award, and a $1,000 gift certificate from Going Places Travel to help with travel to Global Culinaire Inc.'s Career Exploration Summer 2023.
Amina, 10, was drawn to the notion of becoming a junior young chef, so she entered the Bahamas Young Chef Competition. Her professional goal as the youngest contender is to become a surgeon/gynecologist. Jasmine rice, crusted breadfruit, pigeon pea burger with guava salsa (rice), and triple layer lemon coconut cookie with no bake guava cheesecake filling (flour) were among her winning recipes.
Amina received a free registration for the JWU Summer Explorations program in Providence, Rhode Island or North Carolina, a $650 scholarship and gold medal from Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour, a plaque from Keith and Sara Parker, competition founders, and the junior school culinary competitions floating trophy.
Gabrielle Ferguson, a senior at Doris Johnson Senior High School, finished second in the seniors. Third place went to Cleshora Joseph of Jack Hayward High School. Tevin Turtle of L.N. Coakley High School completed the top four.
