Amanda Shoup of Zelienople did not let inexperience or youth deter her in last month’s Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs cooking competition in Kansas.

The 23-year-old culinary student at Pittsburgh Technical Institute in North Fayette emerged with a bronze award in the competition sponsored by the Chaine des Rotisseurs — International Association of Gastronomy.

Just like the competitions among chefs on reality TV shows, competitors in Kansas were given a basket of food items and told to create a meal for the judges.

For her challenge, Ms. Shoup had duckling, Maine lobster, fennel, tofu and bacon. She had 30 minutes to create a menu and three hours to prepare the meal.

“It was hard, but I just thought about everything we had practiced,” said Ms. Shoup, referring to the long hours spent with her instructors at PTI’s American Academy of Culinary Arts, where she is a third-term student.

Although she just started at the school in July 2014, her skills and determination caught the attention of Norman Hart, chef director, who noticed her potential almost as soon as she began her studies.

“We had a competition, and I asked her if she wanted to compete,” Mr. Hart said. “I think she was afraid to say, ‘no.’ I paired her with a senior and I not only saw her hold her own, she took over.”

Mr. Hart also was impressed that Ms. Shoup didn’t crumble under pressure.

“She was determined, and I knew that would help her in competition,” he said.

Ms. Shoup competed on the local level and won the Pittsburgh Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs Competition in January to qualify for the Kansas competition.

When Ms. Shoup and Mr. Hart decided she was ready to compete outside of the school, they practiced rigorously. She had to master techniques for the competition that she hadn’t learned in class.

As a single mother balancing family responsibilities with her studies, it was at times exhausting.

“But I really wanted to do this,” she said. It had taken her a few years to find her niche and once she did, she wasn’t going to let her age or inexperience stop her.

As a student at Seneca Valley High School, Ms. Shoup studied art every chance she had.

After graduating in 2010, she got married and had a daughter, Sophia. She also studied at Butler County Community College and Slippery Rock University to become an art teacher.

But after her divorce, Ms. Shoup decided to take some time off.

“I really needed to take a break from school and focus on Sophia,” she said. “Then I started thinking about how much I have loved cooking my entire life and how cooking combines art with food.”

With no experience other than cooking at home, she enrolled in PTI’s culinary studies.

“I came to school not expecting too much of myself, just to get an education and a good job,” she said. “But after the competition, I have a different mind set. I know that anything can happen when you put your mind to it.”

Before the competition in Kansas, Ms. Shoup said she had mixed feelings about entering the contest.

“Half of me was asking myself what I was doing there and the other half was really excited,” she said. “But I wasn’t really nervous until about an hour before I went in.”

Ms. Shoup said Mr. Hart told her not to panic. So, she focused on cooking — not winning or losing. 

When she returned home, Ms. Shoup landed a part-time job at the Duquesne Club.

“It is the job of my dreams. I’m going to continue my studies and one day, I want to be an executive chef,” she said. “Hey, a girl can dream.”

Mr. Hart believes those dreams could come true for his star pupil.

“She has the talent and determination to go as far as she wants,” he said. “I’m expecting a lot of great things from her.”

Kathleen Ganster, freelance writer, suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

First Published: June 12, 2015, 4:00 a.m.