Best Teen Chef 2008 Local Finalists - Orange County
Esmael Majedi
Trabuco Hills High School
The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Orange County’s Best Teen Chef 2008
Esmael Majedi, 17, a senior at Trabuco Hills High School, has been cooking since he was about eight years old. His first lessons came from his mother who taught him to cook traditional English food but Majedi also added many Italian favorites to his repertoire when he started working with his professional mentor, Dan John.
John was the owner and head chef of Nebbia, an Italian restaurant in Rancho Santa Margarita. Majedi worked closely with him in the kitchen and learned to make sauces, pizza and pasta. The restaurant is now closed but Majedi has continued to work with John’s catering business.
This teen dreams of owning his own restaurant someday and he’s counting on The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Orange County to help him further develop his culinary skills. For now, he loves to cook for friends and family, who have been supportive of his passion for good food.
Majedi’s cooking preferences are simple. He likes using fresh, organic ingredients that are in season – vegetables, different meats and fish. If he had to pick a favorite dish, it would be a good curry.
When he’s not busy cooking or dreaming of his own restaurant, Majedi is an avid soccer fan. He enjoys both playing the game and watching it on television.
As he heads to Las Vegas for the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition, Majedi is confident he will do well.