Austinist Ninja Foodie of the Week: Carolyn Bream

Who’s afraid of Carolyn Bream? Not us. In fact, we’d say the economy-sized Texas Culinary Academy student – with her quirky schoolgirl ringlets and bright, funky wardrobe – is one of the least intimidating food people we’ve met. So who is afraid of Carolyn Bream? The competition.

Bream is $15,000 closer to paying for her culinary education after winning the 2006 Stephan Pyles Celebrity Chef Challenge Scholarship. The annual competition, which comprises culinary students from across the Lone Star State, is no easy task to win. Students take Texas ingredients like lamb, pecans and El Rey chocolates and mix them with a dash of skill, a heaping helping of talent and a big scoop of training, and present an entire menu to a slate of judges including the wildly celebrated Chef Pyles.

Bream, who has studied theatre in Virginia, acted in Manhattan and taught English in Prague wins this week's award for excessive talent and gets an honorable mention for being the unofficial hero to people who hate working in cubicles.

*Photos courtesy Amanda Morris*