Finals for culinary students at East High School in Rochester, N.Y., took place recently and they weren’t on paper nor in the kitchen-classrooms. Instead, students gathered in the ballroom of the Riverside Convention Center for a head-to-head Iron Chef competition.

Food Network host Daisy Martinez lead a panel of judges who watched the teen contestants create culinary masterpieces in 60 minutes. The catch – teens cooked before a live audience and their dishes had to include root beer, kiwi, and pita chips. Oh, and the sous chefs? Teens relied on the mayor and a host of other local celebs.

East High students, from left, Tyra Jones, Shaquille Clark, Shakilya Cruickshank (winner), Jeanette Sanders, Cody Pinkins, Halle Lowry and Jelani Dawson were the 2012 Iron Chef contestants in Rochester, N.Y. (Photo by MARIE DE JESUS, Democrat and Chronicle)