CATALINA FOOTHILLS, Ariz. — With one swift movement, the chicken sears in Daniel Magallon's pan. The flames from the gas grill engulf the meat for split second before disappearing, as if they were never there.
"So I really had to focus," Magallon said."Once I focused, I was able to do it before the timer. At first I was stressed and now I’m all calm.”In the next room, Ava Frazier competes in the chicken fabrication event. She and a dozen other students have 20 minutes to correctly cut a chicken. While some culinary arts events took place at Mica Mountain or Santa Rita high schools, the bulk of the competitions were held at The Westin at La Paloma. There, students competed in culinary display, fashion design, Early Childhood and Education Professions, Hospitality Management, and Interior Design.