The Oregon Coast Culinary Institute at Southwestern Oregon Community College will be hosting a competition for high school culinary students from all over the state this weekend.

The first-annual Oregon Coast Invitational will feature teams from Hidden Valley, McKay, West Salem, Myrtle Point and St. Helens high schools, as well as two teams representing South Salem High. The competition will begin at about 8 a.m. on Saturday in the 17,000-square-foot OCCI facility and conclude at 1 p.m.

“I have been working hard to get everything organized and get all the teams on board,” said OCCI Chef Tom Roberts, who is coordinating the event. “I am very excited to get the high school kids down here and to see all of the wonderful food that they are going to prepare.”

Each four-member team will prepare a three-course meal for four in 90 minutes, featuring seafood as the protein for the entrée. The rest of the meal will include appetizer or salad and dessert. Judges will critique and score the dishes. At the awards ceremony, scholarships to attend OCCI will be awarded to members of the top three teams, with first-place team members receiving $2,000; $1,500 for second; and $1,000 for third. Cash prizes also will be given to the top three schools to purchase equipment for culinary arts. The school representing the first-place team will receive $500; $400 for second; and $300 for third.

For more information, those interested can contact Roberts at 888-1545 or by e-mail at troberts@socc.edu.