Our Partners

Sara and Keith Parker, proprietors of P.S. Advertising and Public Relations, convinced representatives of "Robin Hood Flour" and "Mahatma Rice" to sponsor a cooking competition for students enrolled in the Home Economics and Hospitality/Tourism Studies Programmes, now known as Family & Consumer Science Education (FCSE), in government and independent high schools in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Mr. Parker, a longtime school inspector, was familiar with the former Minister of Education, the Honorable Bernard J. Nottage, and other Ministry employees. His proposal was enthusiastically embraced. The inaugural competition was arranged by Mrs. Helouise Newbold, the former Home Economics Officer at the Ministry of Education, in partnership with Mr. Parker and Mrs. Sharon Ferguson, the former Subject Coordinator (FCSE) at L.W. Young High School. Mrs. Ferguson, the current Senior Education Officer in charge of Family & Consumer Science Education (FCSE) at the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology and former Subject Coordinator at L.W. Young High School, has continued to lead this initiative by establishing an annual competition with the assistance and cooperation of Mr. Parker, the local liaison and Public Relations Officer.

Ms. Krizia Williams of Picturesque Designs, Media & Promos replaced Mr. Keith Parker / P.S. Advertising & Public Relations as the local liaison for The International Sponsors, Young Chef Media, and event management with MOE Officers upon his retirement in 2018.

Young Chefs Cooking Competitions 

Our sponsors have steadily increased the annual budget of this educational program to cover prize money, airfare for family island students and coaches, cooking products (Robin Hood Flour and Mahatma Rice), medals, cooking items, and incentive stipends for host schools through one's local distributor Asa H. Pritchard Ltd. 

Our primary sponsors, J.M. Smucker Company (Robin Hood Flour) represented by Mr. Nick Verderico and Riviana Foods Inc. (Mahatma Rice) represented by Mr. Ceaser Vazquez.

 For the 25th Anniversary, we launched two additional competitions namely "The Young Chef Cup Cake Challenge" and "The Young Chef Mystery Basket Competitions," which allowed more students to participate and earn a College Scholarship. 

We are thrilled to see what the next 30 years and beyond will bring.

Apart from the scholarship prize monies awarded by Sponsors Mahatma® Rice and Robin Hood® Flour, a number of Young Chef Culinary Competition Participants were granted college scholarships. Last year alone Tanai Miller received a $30,000.00 scholarship from Munroe College to study Pastry Making. Rico Neely received a $56,000.00 scholarship from Munroe College in conjunction with the Ministry of Education to continue his studies. Phillippa Johnson, 2016 National Young Chef Winner, received a $10,000.00 scholarship from Johnson & Wales University.