Exciting dining options in Chicago for the FENI Summit

12th Annual Foodservice Educators Network International (FENI) Educators Summit
February 12 to 15 in Chicago
www.fenisummit.com

Delicious dining
Chicago is a foodie haven with nationally recognized, cutting-edge dining--and thus the perfect location for the 12th Annual FENI Summit! Since the FENI Summit falls over Valentine's Day weekend, we suggest you make your evening restaurant reservations now to ensure you can dine at your top picks! For suggestions, check out Yelp, Open Table or Chicago magazine's "The Hot List."

One great option is located in our host hotel, the Hotel Allegro: At 312 Chicago (312-696-2420), chef Luca Corazzina whips up his fresh and local take on contemporary Italian cuisine--like salsiccia d'agnello (grilled house-made lamb sausage with apple mostarda and watercress) and pappardelle with slow-braised pork shoulder, porcini mushrooms and Parmesan.

A few of the items at our silent auction on Saturday of FENI (Feb. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon) are restaurant gift certificates! Read on to whet your appetite and get ready to bid for a good cause, the For the Love of Chocolate Scholarship Foundation for pastry arts education.

• Atwood Café (donated by Kimpton Hotels). At the corner of Washington and State streets in the historic Hotel Burnham, visitors can experience fine-dining and homemade desserts in the rich Art Deco atmosphere of Atwood Café. The café offers diners executive chef Heather Terhune's contemporary interpretations of classic American cuisine, from grainy mustard white wine-braised rabbit and Chinese five spice pan-seared duck breast to fried fresh peach pie and warm tart cherry dumpling with lemon curd gelato. Located at 1 W. Washington Street, Chicago. Open daily. Reservations are accepted. Call (312) 368-1900 or visit www.atwoodcafe.com.

• South Water Kitchen (donated by Kimpton Hotels). Even if you're not from Chicago, you'll instantly feel like a Midwesterner when you step into the warmly lit, intimate atmosphere at South Water Kitchen. Executive chef Chris Lateano hopes to make diners feel at home with his playful, Midwestern take on regional American cooking. He offers items such as grilled bavette steak with blue cheese custard potatoes, potted chicken liver paté with house-made peach mustard and pan-roasted arctic char with crispy pretzel dumplings. Located at 225 N. Wabash Ave. Open daily. Reservations are accepted. Call (312) 236-9300 or visit www.southwaterkitchen.com.

• Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants (donated by the French Pastry School). Whether you're craving seafood and steaks with a view, Milanese-style risotto and pasta, classic American fare right on bustling Rush Street or wood-fired pizza, veal and uniquely Italian pasta dishes in the heart of Little Italy, Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants can satiate you. Tantalizing restaurant selections are located throughout Chicagoland to suit almost any taste and budget. Restaurant concepts include Tavern on Rush, Tuscany, Phil Stefani's 437 Rush and Riva on Navy Pier. For more information, visit www.stefanirestaurants.com.

And just a friendly reminder to make your reservations at the Hotel Allegro (800-546-7866) by this Friday (Jan. 29) to receive the special FENI Summit room rate of $109 per night! Mention "FENI Summit" when reserving.

Almost Famous Chef Competition expands search

The eighth annual S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef Competition is under way as international culinary students vie for a spot in the finals competition, taking place March 5 to 8 at the Culinary Institute of America-Greystone in Napa Valley, Calif. This is the first year S.Pellegrino has expanded its search outside the United States and Canada to include culinary students from Italy, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

In February, S. Pelligrino will name the 11 regional winners to be flown to the finals. They will compete in three categories: The Mystery Basket, The Signature Dish and The People's Choice. The overall winner will win the title of Almost Famous Chef, up to $20,000 in prizes and a paid apprenticeship from one of the participating chef judges. This year's judges include Rick Moonen of RM Seafood in Las Vegas, Ralph Pagano of kitchensynx.com and celebrity chef Nick Stellino. Last year's winner, David Awad (pictured, below, at the 2009 S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef final competition), is currently working at Alto in New York City, which recently received a Michelin star.
For more information, visit www.almostfamouschef.com or www.thesparklinglife.com.

Jo Daviess Carroll and Wilco students win Illinois ProStart Invitational

At the 9th Annual Illinois ProStart Student Invitational at Kendall College in Chicago, the student team from Wilco Area Vocational Center won the culinary competition and the student team from Jo Daviess Carroll Area Vocation Center won the management competition. Both teams will go on to compete in the National ProStart Student Invitational competition, which takes place April 30 to May 2, in Overland Park, Kan.

Each first place team member was awarded more than $12,000 in scholarships to culinary colleges including: Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago, Culinary Institute of America, Illinois Institute of Art, Johnson & Wales University, Kendall College and Washburne Culinary Institute. Overall, more than $100,000 in scholarships was awarded to students. The program, which was hosted by the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) and sponsored by Sysco Foodservice--Chicago, also included a college fair and cooking demonstrations.

For more information on the IRAEF ProStart Student Invitational visit www.illinoisrestaurants.org and click on Educational Foundation.

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.

MSU Hospitality receives gift from The Panda Charitable Foundation

The Panda Charitable Foundation is donating a $200,000 gift to Michigan State University's (MSU) School of Hospitality Business to help support the revitalization of the school's culinary business learning lab. The lab will showcase the latest in culinary equipment, sustainable building materials and optimal design concepts.

"This lab helps us further our educational mission: to be the leader in hospitality business education," said Shelley MacMillan, associate director of development for MSU's School of Hospitality Business, in a press statement. "The Panda Charitable Foundation joins our other leadership partners and all the generous donors to this critical project. Together with them, the school can continue to prepare tomorrow's leaders."

The Panda Charitable Foundation was established by Panda Restaurant Group Inc., whose flagship concept is Asian QSR concept Panda Express.

Lexington College offers new Event and Meeting Planning certificate

For women looking to develop their skills in event and meeting planning, Lexington College in Chicago is now offering a certificate in Event and Meeting Planning. The program includes five accredited courses completed over the course of one year. The hours can be applied to the Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation or toward the bachelor's degree offered at Lexington. No previous college coursework is required.

Courses include Introduction to Meeting & Event Planning, Meeting Planning, Convention and Exposition Management, Special Events and Applied Event Planning. The program is tailored toward busy professionals, as classes meet in a periodic weekend format. For more information, visit www.lexingtoncollege.edu or contact Carmen Larios.

Register NOW, pay later for the 12th Annual FENI Summit

12th Annual Foodservice Educators Network International (FENI) Educators Summit
February 12 to 15 in Chicago

www.fenisummit.com

Register now, pay later!
Don't miss out on your top choices for Master Classes at the 12th Annual FENI Summit. You can register today by visiting www.fenisummit.com/2010registration.htm, or by contacting Naurice Olivera (nolivera@talcott.com; 312-849-2220, ext. 46). Then FENI will bill you or your school immediately following the event. There is also still time to get the FENI Summit discounted room rate at the Hotel Allegro (800-643-1500). Be sure to mention "FENI Summit" when you call to make your reservation.

Register soon so you can benefit from all of the great FENI Summit events:
• SPEAKERS Celebrity Chef Charlie Trotter and Kendall College's Dean, Chef Christopher Koetke
• Reception and awards ceremony for Educators of the Year
• Poster board presentations on the latest developments in culinary education
• Panel discussion, breakout sessions and roundtable sessions
• Silent auction to benefit French Pastry School's For the Love of Chocolate scholarship foundation
• Info fair and exhibits with products and resources for the culinary classroom
• City of Chicago Culinary Tour and Luncheon (optional; additional fee)
• FULL! Green and sustainable tour at Hotel Allegro (optional; free)