While many boys are trying to master the latest video game or perfect a skateboard maneuver, Andrew Kamphuis is testing his kitchen skills.

The 15-year-old is an aspiring chef who has been invited to lend his culinary capabilities to a fundraiser for the Abbotsford Community Foundation.

Andrew will donate a picnic lunch for five people as part of a live auction prize at the Neighbourhood Ball on Oct. 3. The meal is included in a one-hour scenic flight over the Fraser Valley.

Andrew recently demonstrated his talent by whipping up some sample appetizers for the Neighbourhood Ball’s volunteer team. Among his offerings were tomato basil mozzarella skewers, fennel orange salad in cucumbers, and mango mint chocolate skewers.

He said he has not yet chosen what he will create for the picnic prize, but he enjoys coming up with new recipes.

“I just get really into it. I lose track of time. I just love it,” he said.

Andrew is the cook of his household, putting food on the table a few times each week – much to the delight of his parents and 13-year-old brother, none of whom have a particular knack for creating cuisine.

Andrew, a Grade 11 Robert Bateman Secondary student, comes by his interest via his paternal grandmother, Heather Kamphuis of Kamloops.

“I’d go and visit her and bake cookies.”

He became fascinated with cooking shows, often tuning in to see what British chef Jamie Oliver or Chef at Home’s Michael Smith were preparing.

About three years ago, Andrew began making his own dishes, following recipes he gleaned from cookbooks or the Internet.

At first, he was interested in Italian food – mainly pasta – but then progressed to French cuisine. These days, he comes up with his own concoctions.

“I just love trying new things all the time.”

Andrew took some basic cooking classes in school, but didn’t find them too helpful, as he had long since progressed beyond the basics. After high school, he plans to attend a culinary program and become a professional chef.

He became involved in the Neighbourhood Ball after his mom, Racquel, a hairstylist, had a client who was involved in the fundraiser. Racquel mentioned Andrew’s talent to her client, and he was invited to participate.

Meanwhile, he has spent some time perfecting his skills over the summer.

“This is pretty much my only hobby,” he said.

The Neighbourhood Ball consists of a benefit concert and live auction to raise funds for the Abbotsford Community Foundation. It takes place at the new Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

For more information, visit abbotsfordcf.org or call Enrica or Lucy at 604-850-3755.