• Hometown: Spring City, Pa.
• Theme: Florida
• Date: Friday, April 24

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: I started working in a restaurant and fell in love with the aspect of making food for people.

Culinary inspirations: Gorden Ramsay, Guy Fieri, Nick DiGiovanni, Ian Fujimoto 

Future: I would like to open a smoke or game food truck.

About the region: Seafood is very common, same with orange and coconut. Common ways to cook are deep frying, grilling, sauteing and boiling.

• Hometown: Milton, Pa.
• Theme: Florida
• Date: Wednesday, April 22

Why she chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: I've always watched cooking shows and was always interested in cooking.

Culinary inspirations: Chef Frank Suchwala

Future: I'd like to eventually become a professional chef for a restaurant, mainly a Cuban restaurant.

About the region: Cooking methods include grilling, searing, steaming and blackening. Featured ingredients are seafood, tropical fruits and citrus.

• Hometown: Ringtown, Pa.
• Theme: Texas
• Date: Friday, April 17

Why she chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: My passion and interest in the culinary sciences, as well as the creativity it involves. 

Future: If life doesn’t get in the way, I plan to go into butchery and/or taxidermy and eventually open my own business involving the various culinary and artistic preparation methods of game animals, such as taxidermy and butchery, as well as preparing jerky, sausages, steaks, etc.

About the region: Caramelized onions, steaks, briskets, and other typically very hearty “American”-style ingredients and proteins are used in my region. The Texas region involves lots of other hearty ingredients and foods, like: apples, glazes, potatoes, barbecue sauce, beer, parsnips, and lots of fresh herbs like rosemary, bay leaves, etc.

• Hometown: Reading, Pa.
• Theme: Texas
• Date: Wednesday, April 15

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: Since I was young I’ve always had an interest in cooking, but it's when high school came and I joined CTC for culinary where my interest grew into a passion for culinary. 

Culinary inspirations: Gordon Ramsay is almost the entire reason for my interest in cooking.

Future: In the long run, I hope to own my own business; the idea is a cafe/bar mix. I'd also like to work for Disney.

About the region: In Texas, common ingredients used are brisket, pork, chicken, gulf seafood, chili peppers, corn products, beans, barbecue sauces, and cheeses like Cheddar and Queso Fresco. Cooking methods used are smoking, grilling, braising, frying, and pickling.

• Hometown: Uniontown, Pa.
• Theme: Maine
• Date: Wednesday, April 8

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: I enjoyed the experience of cooking growing up.

Culinary inspirations: Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White

About the region: Ingredients include seafood, potatoes, butter, garlic and blueberries, while cooking methods are grilling, roasting and simmering.

• Hometown: Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
• Theme: North Carolina
• Date: Wednesday, April 1

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: My interest in food and cooking inspired me to pursue this career.

Culinary inspirations: I am grateful for all of my culinary instructors through the years who have taught and inspired me to keep cooking and pursue a degree.

Future: My goal is to be a chef for professional athletes. 

About the region: The North Carolina menu incorporates grilling, smoking and roasting cooking methods into its dishes. 

• Hometown: Williamsport, Pa.
• Theme: North Carolina
• Date: Friday, April 3

Why she chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: Love of the art, deeply rooted in family heritage, strong skills asset to build into my current position in my career journey

Culinary inspirations: Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, Ina Garten

Future: The skills I’ve gained will augment my professional skills and the services I offer in my own hospitality business. I would also enjoy applying my experience and skills as a manager in the hotel/hospitality/event/restaurant industry. I greatly look forward to sharing these skills in helping and supporting charitable causes.

About the region: Much of the cuisine centers around pork foremost, with chicken and shrimp. Sweet potatoes, collard greens, tomatoes, okra, corn and peaches are staple accompaniments. Items such as cornmeal and saltines are popular in fry method preparations, with apple cider vinegar, ketchup, molasses, mayonnaise and hot sauce providing foundations for barbecue sauces. Most common cooking methods include “low and slow” barbecuing over hickory or oak wood, stewing/simmering, boiling & steaming, deep frying, grilling, and baking. 

• Hometown: Montgomery, Pa.
• Theme: Colorado
• Date: Wednesday, March 25

Why she chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: The passion I have for cooking and making people’s day when it comes to food.

Culinary inspirations: Brian Andstadt, Carlos Delgado, Julia Child

Future: I would love to be a private chef for an NFL sports team.

About the region: Ingredients include butter, oil, peppers, spice blends, garlic and rosemary. Cooking methods used are grill and sauté. 

• Hometown: Williamsport, Pa.
• Theme: Pennsylvania
• Date: Friday, March 20

Why she chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: My passion for culinary stemmed from watching Food Network with my grandparents when I was young.

Culinary inspirations: Chefs that have inspired me are Julia Child, Chef Renk, and Chef Nasdeo. (Renk and Nasdeo are Williamsport Area High School culinary arts instructors)

Future: I would like to work in a high-end restaurant.

About the region: Common ingredients in Pennsylvania are mushrooms, root vegetables and dairy. Common cooking methods are stewing, pickling and baking.

• Hometown: Hatboro, Pa.
• Theme: Texas
• Date: Friday, April 17

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: Being in the kitchen with my mom

Culinary inspirations: My mom

Future: I'd like to work somewhere where they get busy but have some slow days, as well, that can give me an opportunity to play around in the kitchen. I'd like to end up owning my own diner.

• Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
• Theme: Maine
• Date: Wednesday, April 8

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: Growing up cooking with my grandmother

Culinary inspirations: Ree Drummond, Ina Garten, Gordon Ramsay

Future: Become a private chef or own my own catering business 

About the region: Cooking methods featured in this menu include grilling, sauteing, roasting and baking 

• Hometown: Kennett Square, Pa.
• Theme: Florida
• Date: Friday, April 24

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: I want to give back to the people who’ve helped me become who I am now: use this art to not only be creative but help others and make people happy.

Future: I would like to work at some Michelin star or famous restaurant for some good experience, and hopefully I can leave a mark on the place. I would definitely like to be high up in the culinary hierarchy: executive/chef de cuisine or sous chef. 

About the region: Lots of citrus such as oranges, limes and seafood. Frying, grilling, and smoking are very common cooking methods used in Florida and all regions down South. 

• Hometown: Reinholds, Pa.
• Theme: Pennsylvania
• Date: Friday, March 20

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: From helping my mother cook as a child and pursuing it through grade school, I have continued to follow my passion in cooking.

Culinary inspirations: Gordan Ramsay, Julia Child, Guy Fieri

Future: After school I would love to work around the globe to further my culinary understanding. My end goal of my career is to own my own establishment in Pennsylvania.

About the region: Pennsylvania cuisine is traditionally cheap, hearty, and filling, so ingredients such as potatoes, cabbage, pork, and noodles are common. Pennsylvania is also very big on using scraps, they are also known for the Philly cheesesteak, as well as a big pretzel industry. Some common cooking methods to find in this state include stewing, pickling, deep frying, and roasting. 

• Hometown: Reinholds, Pa.
• Theme: Pennsylvania
• Date: Wednesday, March 18

Why he chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: I find the ability to make someone smile very fulfilling, and culinary arts is my favorite way to do that. 

Culinary inspirations: Marco Pierre White showed that you can achieve anything you want if you put in the effort needed. He also showed a true passion for food and has covered just about every part of the industry. 

Future: I would like to work as a private chef and or in a restaurant as part of a team.

About the region: There are many different types of food inside of Pennsylvania. Classic PA Dutch foods include lots of potatoes, root vegetables, and many proteins. Most of the Dutch methods include roasting and baking. Other areas include Philadelphia and its classic beef cheesesteak, and Pittsburgh with its pierogies and Primanti-style sandwiches. 

• Hometown: Willow Street, Pa.
• Theme: Florida
• Date: Wednesday, April 22

Why she chose to pursue a culinary-arts education: I decided to go in to hospitality because I love to make people good food and see them smile and enjoy the food.

Culinary inspirations: I think the person that I look up to is Buddy Valastro. I used to watch him on TV, and to see the cakes that he made was so fun and exciting. One day I said I what to be in the kitchen for the rest of my life. 

Future: My end goal is to open up my own café.

About the region: They use a lot of fresh products like fish and fruit.