Indy student chefs win big at the World Food Championships

by Jolene Ketzenberger | Nov 9, 2023 | Updates

Two Indiana middle school students took first place in a new junior division at the World Food Championships in Dallas.

Paramount Schools of Excellence student chef Tony Fernandez, aided by sous chef Tiffany Smith, both 14, won first place and $2,500 Nov. 8 at the competition that included 12 middle and high school teams from Dallas and Indianapolis.

Paramount CEO Tommy Reddicks launched a Junior Chef Academy program this past year that aimed to address food insecurity among student families by teaching cooking skills. Student chefs in the program, taught by local chef Ross Katz, competed during the school’s TURN Festival in September, and the top-scoring teams earned golden tickets to the World Food Championships. 

Paramount students Rylee Pate and Gavin Watson also competed in Dallas and took fifth place among the junior division teams. Two teams from Ben Davis Area 31 Career Center competed as well.