It could have been a scene from any of the Food Network's popular competition cooking shows.

A plate, filled with food, sat before a judge. The chef stood nearby, nervously awaiting her critique.

The judge took a bite of the peanut breaded catfish, seasoned with cayenne pepper and chili powder.

"The seasoning is great. The fish could be cooked a little bit less, but it's still moist."

The judge tasted the lime-scented rice.

"The doneness of the rice is perfect. It's just a little bland."

Finally, the judge tested the julienned vegetables, a mix of sliced sweet potatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, onions and garlic.

"Perfect seasoning on your vegetables," said Toni Dovalina, the executive chef at the Casper Country Club. "This is better than the last time you did it. But we can still improve on it."

Erik Johnson, a line cook and a senior at Natrona County High School, smiled.

Cooking this meal was just practice for May 9, when Erik will travel to Charlotte, N.C. for the final round of the national Best Teen Chef competition.

He's already won a $3,000 scholarship. Winning the upcoming competition would mean a full-ride scholarship to an art institute and a day of interning at the Food Network Kitchens in New York City.

Judges will use a five-point scale to score Erik's meal based on cooking techniques, texture, color, shape, flavor and craftsmanship. Dovalina, a former culinary school instructor, gave Erik mostly "fours" in her critique.

Before working at the country club, Erik was a pastry chef at 303 Restaurant. Long before that job, he helped his mother make breakfast at the Ivy House Inn, and helped his father brew beer.

Cooking is what Erik wants to do.

"It's just always been a passion," he said.

Someday, Erik wants to travel the world, learning even more about cooking techniques. Someday, he wants to open his own restaurant.

"He has all the drive, which is 50 percent of it," Dovalina said. "He has great potential."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at jasa.santos@trib.com. Read her education blog at tribtown.trib.com/JasaSantos/blog.

Teen Chef

By TIM KUPSICK

Star-Tribune videographer

On the menu

Erik Johnson, a senior at Natrona County High School, is representing the Art Institute of Chicago at the national Best Teen Chef competition on May 9. The following items are what Erik will cook for the final round:

Catfish with cayenne pepper and chili powder, in a peanut breading

Julienned sweet potatoes, zucchini, red and green bell peppers, onion and garlic

Lime-scented rice

A fish volute sauce

Erik Johnson, a senior at Natrona County High School, is representing the Art Institute of Chicago at the national Best Teen Chef competition on May 9. The following items are what Erik will cook for the final round:

Catfish with cayenne pepper and chili powder, in a peanut breading

Julienned sweet potatoes, zucchini, red and green bell peppers, onion and garlic

Lime-scented rice

A fish volute sauce]]->