Editor’s note: Translation assisted by artificial intelligence tools and edited by Bianca Godina
The culinary talent of the Valley stood out at the state level thanks to Evony Mejía Montoya, a student in the Youthentity Culinary Academy who earned first place in the Italco Charcuterie Board & Hors d’oeuvre competition, an event that brings together young culinary talent from across Colorado.
Mejía Montoya is a second-year apprentice in the Youthentity Culinary Academy and a senior at Roaring Fork High School. She secured the victory on March 4, during this major charcuterie competition held in Denver and organized by the Colorado Restaurant Association.
During the competition, participants had 45 minutes to design and prepare a charcuterie board and an hors d’oeuvre using gruyère cheese. Entries were evaluated by a panel of judges based on presentation, creativity, flavor and technique.
Sol del Valle spoke with Mejía Montoya, who shared some insight about that decisive moment.
“I was very nervous. I didn’t really know what to do or how to start putting the board together,” she said. “As time went on, it felt like winning was getting further away. But at one point, I saw how other contestants were doing it and thought that, deep down, I knew how to do it, too. I had done it before and I could put the board together easily, even better. And that’s how it happened. The judges liked it … and I won.”
Competing is nothing new for Mejía Montoya. She has participated in several culinary competitions in the past. In 2025, she was part of the Colorado ProStart team representing Youthentity and Roaring Fork High School. The team won the state championship and later placed fifth nationally at a competition held in Baltimore.
“Winning this competition meant a lot to me because it pushed me to think creatively and trust my training,” Mejía Montoya said. “This is my third win, and it shows my parents that this is what I want to do with my future.”
Of Salvadoran heritage, Mejía Montoya is part of the Carbondale school system. Her journey has involved not only developing culinary talent, but also adapting to a new culture and language. The process has been meaningful for her, and she said that she feels proud of everything she has learned both at home and in school. She fondly remembers her cooking instructors, and, particularly, her elementary school English teacher.
Today, she is certain that her future “smells like pastry.”
“I don’t want to leave Colorado,” she said. “I’ve explored several culinary schools and options … to achieve my goals, but I want to stay close to my family.”
Bret Moyer, director of the Youthentity Career Academy, said in a press release, “Evony represents exactly what the Youthentity Culinary Academy is about. She works hard, takes pride in her craft and continues to challenge herself through real-world opportunities.” He continued, “Watching her growth, from the 2025 ProStart culinary team’s national podium finish to winning the 2026 individual culinary competition, is inspiring. We are incredibly proud of her.”
For now, she remains connected to the Youthentity Culinary Academy, where she continues to build her skills. The Youthentity Culinary Academy is part of the organization’s workforce development programs, offering students hands-on culinary training, mentorship from professional chefs and opportunities to build skills while exploring careers in the food and hospitality industry. To learn more about Youthentity, visit youthentity.org