They took the heat ...

All photos provided by Steve Newman.

The saying goes ‘If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,’ and on Tuesday 16 high school students from across the province proved not only could they take the heat but at the same time work magic as they battled to become Canadore College's 3rd Annual Next Top Chef.

This exciting culinary competition, which was open to all senior high school students looking to jump start their culinary career, saw eight teams of two test their culinary skills to the limit. The teams, representing North Bay area, Huntsville, Innisfil, and Parry Sound area, had to prepare a three-course meal that was then judged on sanitation, planning, work ethic, accuracy of the recipes, presentation and taste.

Jocelyne Chalifoux and Mathieu Lapointe from Ecole publique Odyssee captured first place and win the first semester tuition to a two or three year culinary program of their choice at Canadore.

Bailey Demaine and Cristie Campbell from Huntsville High School captured second place while Danielle Gauthier and Daniel Bureau from Ecole publique secondaire Northern captured third place.