There really isn't a certain age when a child learns to (or even wants to, for that matter) cook, but as Courtney and Seth Dedmond of Lawndale know, all it takes is the desire. Oh, yeah, a little bit of talent and innate skill doesn't hurt either.

Take for example their seven-year-old genius chef, Gabriel, a.k.a., Gabe. This is one talented little gourmand who isn't afraid to tackle the hard things in the culinary arts and has proven his skill as one mean Dutch Oven empresario. He has further proven his mettle, she recently noted, by winning a number of contests and cook-offs and is looking forward to entering in, and winning, even more in 2024!

Gabriel's mom, Courtney, wrote to the Shopper, "My husband, Seth, and I have always camped. When Gabe was three, we got in touch with Southeast Campers, a local Dutch Oven cooking group." She said Gabe would always "...try to help us cook as we were outside," and it just took off from there.

Courtney said her husband was born and raised in Lawndale, NC, adding she is from Florida and moved to North Carolina in 2016.

"Gabriel has two older sisters, Olivia and Sophie," said Mrs. Dedmond, who added, "Neither of them cook but they do come and support when they can."

The way all this with Gabe and his love for Dutch Oven cooking came about, noted Courtney, is, "In 2022 we went to the National Dutch Oven gathering in Hanover, Pennsylvania, for us to just enjoy. (At the) last minute, Gabe informed us that he wanted to cook in the youth competition.

"At the age of six, he won the youth division making a Shepherd Pie and a Pineapple Upside-down Cake."

She continued, "We practiced more with Gabe to get ready for the 2023 competition in Rayne, LA, where he won at the age of seven, cooking a Flank Steak Pinwheel and a Pineapple Upside-down Cake with a rum glaze. "This astounded us," said mom, Courtney, as the event is a five-hour event.

Both parents have noted, "Now, we are next off to Mitchell, Indiana, (in) 2024 (where he will compete at the age of 8)."

Mom and dad both know he is good, adding Gabe has pretty lofty aspirations going forward as "...he wants to look into being a professional cook and still be able to camp and cook outdoors."

Courtney continued, "When Gabriel is wanting to cook, we allow him to experiment as best as he can and teach him what we know. When he does cook, we will help with starting the charcoal or cutting. He does cut the food some now that we have been working with a knife more often."

His family all note how young Gabe is very blessed and fortunate in that he has a whole crew standing behind, and with, him in his hobby and passion - cooking in general, and Dutch Oven cooking, in specific.

For those who want to know... his "sous chef" crew (and inspiration) is mom, Courtney; dad, Seth; sisters, Olivia and Sophie; and last but not least, grandmother, Joanie Dixon.

"He practices hard and is very serious about his cooking," said Courtney and Seth, who are very proud of him and want to see him go on with this, if this is what he wants.