High school students take part in culinary arts competition at WCTC

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Local high school chefs got to show off their cooking skills Friday. 

Several hometown students took part in a culinary arts competition at Waukesha County Tech College. 

Contestants created two plates each, of a soup and two entrees. Everything was prepared from scratch, all while being scored and tested on things like preparation, knife skills, taste and appearance.

"Gives students the opportunity to show off what they've been learning and be rewarded for it. Pretty cool to say you're the Wisconsin state champ and represent yourself in nationals, and there's large scholarship opportunities you can earn or win," said Jack Birren, culinary instructor at WCTC. 

Friday's contest was part of the annual Skills USA Wisconsin State Leadership and Skills conference. 

The winner will be announced in April and will then go on to compete in nationals. 

Schools from southeast Wisconsin represented in the competition include Elkhorn Area High School and Germantown High School.