Eight students have donned their chef hats and flaunted their cooking skills in a culinary showdown.The 12 to 16-year-old budding chefs from the Island’s high schools went head-to-head as they planned, prepared and served a two-course meal for a family of four.The kitchen at Bermuda College was turned into a hive of activity as the teenagers used fresh and local produce to cook their winning meals without spending over $60.Warwick Academy student Gabby Arnold, 15, earned herself first place and was named Bermuda Young Chef of the Year. Sajni Richardson was second and Jalen Steede was third.They beat off competition from Noah Viera, Tyler Gunn, Jeremy Taylor, Shiloh Todd and Keith Bean Jr.A panel of four judges from the Chefs Culinary Association of Bermuda critiqued their work.The judges were Leo Betschart, culinary teacher, Livio Ferigo, executive chef & owner of BoneFish at Dockyard, Mike Scott, executive sous chef at the Fairmont Southampton Resort and Renato Capriz, executive sous chef at HSBC.The judges handed out marks based on the healthy choices of dishes, planning, range of skills, neatness and hygiene, use of time, taste and presentation.All participants received certificates and a copy of the new Bolero cookbook. The three winners also won themselves a set of Wusthof knives.The competition was the brainchild of Laura Knight, the food and nutrition teacher at Warwick Academy, who wanted to “ignite the love of cooking” in young people.She also hopes the competition will encourage youngsters to take up careers within the hotels and restaurants of Bermuda.