S.Pellegrino crowns 8th Almost Famous Chef

Johnson & Wales University-North Miami student Luis Young was named Almost Famous Chef at the 2010 S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef Competition held March 7 at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley, Calif.

(l to r) Cookbook author and culinary/lifestyle expert Katie Lee, Almost Famous Chef Luis Young and celebrity chef Ralph Pagano

Young defeated 10 other culinary students from the United States, Canada and Italy with his winning dish, Herb Scented Seared Venison Tenderloin. In addition to the title, Young's prizes included a $13,000 cash prize and a year-long paid apprenticeship with a participating chef.

The 11 finalists competed in three categories: the Signature Dish, Mystery Basket and People's Choice. Young won the $3,000 Signature Dish prize for his Herb Scented Seared Venison Tenderloin. Brian Schreiber, a student at Kendall College in Chicago, won the Mystery Basket competition and $3,000 for creating a plate with surprise ingredients: chicken, eggs and mushrooms. New England Culinary Institute student Peter Clark won the People's Choice Award and $3,000 for his signature dish, Pan-Seared Halibut.

For more information on the competition and the winning recipe, visit www.almostfamouschef.com or www.thesparklinglife.com.