Seventeen-year-old Sudbury girl Alex Lebel is one of the competitors in Food Network Canada's high-stakes culinary competition, Chopped Canada Teen Tournament.
The show premieres Nov. 28, and Lebel appears on the Dec. 19 show, competing against three other teens from across the country for a spot in the grand finale, which airs Dec. 26.
Lebel, a Confederation Secondary School student who works at Milestones restaurant, is described on the show's website as a competitive figure skater who runs a home catering business with her mom.
“She works as a hostess at a local restaurant, but has her sights set on cooking, and plans to use the money to bring her mom on a much-needed vacation and the rest to pay for culinary school,” the description said.
The teen took to Facebook to voice her excitement about appearing on the show.
“After many months of sneaky getaways, interviews, phone calls, many cameras and lots of preparation... I'm so happy to be able to share with all you guys that this past summer I was lucky enough to be chosen out of thousands of teenage chefs to participate in the television show, CHOPPED CANADA!!!!,” she said.
“I am so so grateful that I was given this opportunity and made me realize that dreams really do come true. Stay focused on what you want and love and nothing can go wrong! I will update you all on air date in a later post!”
Chopped Canada Teen Tournament pits 16 of Canada’s best teen chefs against each other in a five-part special, battling it out for a chance to win $20,000.
In each episode, four young chefs face the clock – and each other – putting their skill and ingenuity to the test in an attempt to turn baskets of mystery ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal.
Competitors between the ages of 13 and 17 from across Canada square off against each other, with the winner of each episode advancing to the finale.
Course by course, the judges decide which teen chef Chopped Canada host Brad Smith will "chop" from the competition until only one remains. The last competitor standing collects the grand prize and will be crowned the first-ever Chopped Canada Teen Grand Champion.
To learn more, visit ChoppedCanada.ca.
