Best Teen Chef 2008 Local Finalists - Sacramento
Santiago Cortez
Rosemont High School
The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Sacramento’s Best Teen Chef 2008
Santiago attends Rosemont High School in Sacramento, CA and expects to graduate in June. He started cooking when he was twelve and while no one ever taught him, he developed a real interest in food. He would spend hours watching the Food Network and would learn recipes from the various programs. He points out that when he is not cooking, he is like many of his friends. He enjoys the company of his peers and going to the movies. He is also involved in volunteer work in his community.
Santiago’s goals for his future including opening his own restaurant. But more than achieving that goal, he would really like to like teach one day and maybe at The Art Institute of California – Sacramento.
His family and friends are all very supportive of his goals and enjoy having him cook for them. While he doesn’t have an area that he would call his “favorite, he really enjoys international foods and enjoys trying recipes from all over the world. If he had to name one favorite dish, it would be beef and broccoli with white rice.