Jennifer Bryant, 21, comes from Balmertown, a small community in northwestern Ontario. Located seven hours northwest of Thunder Bay and with a population of approximately 1,500 people, it seems a long way from Erfurt, Germany! Jennifer’s desire to become a chef was kindled in childhood. She remembers waking up during her grandparents’ visits to make Play-Doh “cherry pies”. When she was in junior high, she and her mother ran a snack day program, and she worked at the local legion catering various events. During her high school years, two enjoyable co-op placements in restaurants helped her to decide where her destiny lay. When the time came to pick which college she would attend, The Culinary Institute of Canada was at the top of her list. She applied, was accepted, and for the first time in her life packed up her things and began her adventure from small town Balmertown to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and now onto Europe for the International Culinary Olympics.