Fieri teams with Izard to support ProStart competition

The National Restaurant Association announced that Guy Fieri and Stephanie Izard (Top Chef Season 4 winner) will address the top ProStart® high school students at the eighth annual National ProStart Invitational from April 24 - 26th, 2009 at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center in San Diego, California.

Teams of students who won first place in their respective states' culinary and/or management competitions compete for the national title and scholarships.

On Friday, April 24, Fieri will kick off the competition at orientation. Fieri will address the students and help announce the top five winning teams in each competition.

"I’ve participated in both the California and national ProStart competitions and I’m looking forward to attending the National ProStart Invitational. These kids have some serious talent, and being around them is an awesome experience.”

In the fall of 2009, Izard plans to open her new Chicago-based restaurant, The Drunken Goat. To find out more visit www.StephanieIzard.com.

Izard will network with students at the Business & Career Expo on Sunday, April 26, and address all attendees that evening at the Awards Dinner.

“The Le Cordon Bleu program at Scottsdale Culinary Institute taught me the skills and confidence I needed to reach this level of my career. I hope to encourage the ProStart students to explore all the options before them to find the right fit as they pursue their dreams of success in this exciting industry.”

Want to attend the event as a guest? Click here.