Marco Bahena is almost famous. That’s because the School of Culinary Arts student won the 9th Annual S.Pellegrino® Almost Famous Chef® North Central Regional Competition on February 9, 2011.

Bahena won the fast-paced, high-pressure cooking competition held at Kendall College with his creative signature dish recipe for Mediterranean Lamb Loin with Chicken Mousseline, Olive Oil Poached Potato, Lyonnaise Salad and Sauce Foyot. Next for Bahena is the rare chance to compete at the final competition to be held at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley, California, March 11-14, 2011.

Bahena competed against five other students from Kendall College and other culinary schools in the North Central region in an intense competition judged by local media and celebrity chefs David Posey of Blackbird, John State of Seasons 52, and JonCarl Lachman of HB Home Bistro and Vincent. Bahena was announced the winner before an enthusiastic audience of local media, chefs and invited guests during the tasting reception.

Marco will be one of ten regional winners to be flown to the finals event in March where he will compete against nine other regional winners from across the United States and Canada during the three-day finals in front of a panel of food media, distinguished guests and renowned chefs. The overall winner will take the title, up to $20,000 in prizes and a paid apprenticeship from one of the participating chef judges.

Will Bahena become famous in Napa? Find out at the same time he does. The competition will be streamed live via the Almost Famous Chef website and Facebook page again this year. Fans can interact with the participating chefs and media, as well as each other to get all the updates and insider information during the competition.

For more information on the competition, visit www.almostfamouschef.com, www.thesparklinglife.com, become a fan on Facebook or follow the competition on Twitter at AFChefComp.

See pictures from the event.