Naha co-owner speaks at FPS graduation

The French Pastry School (FPS) at City Colleges of Chicago honored the newest graduates of L'Art de la Pâtisserie, The Professional Pastry and Baking 24-week program with a ceremony on Dec. 18, 2009, at The Union League Club of Chicago. Carrie Nahabedian, executive chef and co-owner of Naha Restaurant and Deidra Lewis, interim chancellor of Colleges of Chicago addressed graduates during the ceremony.

"It's up to you to preserve the craft [of pastry]," Nahabedian told students. "Protect everything you have learned; be true to what you have learned, because you learned from the best."

Among the establishments that have hired FPS graduates are The Ritz-Carlton, Charlie Trotters and Per Se. Other graduates have plans to open their own businesses.