FIA reaches out to three hospitality programs

Foodservice Institute of America (FIA) members recently visited three hospitality programs—the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University and the International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Pleasantville, N.J.—to introduce FIA to students, staff and faculty, and to offer insights into the opportunities in the industry.

Addressing a large crowd at each school, professional members of FIA discussed the diversity of the hospitality/foodservice industry and shared personal stories about developing leadership in such areas as technology, sales, distribution and consulting. The presentation of these careers only scratched the surface of the potential futures waiting for students who are working towards various degrees, the FIA members said.

Dr. Gong-Soog Hong, department chair for Consumer Sciences at the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University, felt that FIA's mission was a mirror image of his department's own mission and the overall mission of the University. FIA and Ohio State will be developing an opportunity to conduct an on campus symposium in 2010.

FIA also will be engaging in translational research that is meaningful for the industry in the next year and partnering with these three programs is a first step. Student membership in FIA is free to those enrolled in a related program. If a program would like to have FIA members speak to classes, faculty and/or staff, call their offices at 609.645.3131 or e-mail Executive Director Marsha Diamond at marsha@fia-us.org.

Chef-instructor at the Art Institute of Atlanta wins Ocean Spray's Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest

Chef Justin Ward—a member of the culinary faculty at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta, as well as the owner of Leapfrog Restaurant Solutions and chef/owner of Hungry Monkey Catering—was the $25,000 foodservice-category winner of Ocean Spray's Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest. Ward's winning original recipe was pork tenderloin with cranberry molé and cranberry salsa.

The winners were announced on October 7 at a private cocktail party that coincided with the debut of Ocean Spray's 2008 "Bogs Across America" tour in New York City, where about 2,000 pounds of cranberries were on display in a free-standing urban bog.

"Ocean Spray originally launched the Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest to celebrate the versatility of the cranberry year-round," said Larry Martin, vice president of marketing at Ocean Spray. "This year, contestants found even more creative ways to use the cranberry in their dishes. The originality and impressive variety of the recipes submitted showcased the talents of our home cooks and professional chefs and bartenders across the country and the wide range of uses for the fruit's unique flavor."

USDA grant finances cost-benefit assessment of HACCP

Dr. Amit Sharma, assistant professor of hospitality management at Penn State University, received a grant of $555,819 over three years from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a cost-benefit assessment model of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) implementation in commercial foodservice operations.

The HACCP preventative food safety program was developed nearly 30 years ago for astronauts and applies to the canned food industry, seafood, juice, milk, and meat and poultry processing plants. Sharma's project will conduct research in casual dining restaurants, grocery stores and gas station food outlets. A total of 12 organizations will participate through their various units in Pennsylvania and Delaware. The central outcome of the project will be to develop a model that helps managers evaluate the costs of investing in HACCP implementation versus its potential benefits. It will also lead to the development of training modules for management and consumers.

"Given the importance of food safety and HACCP for foodservice organizations and the novel approach of this research, its outcomes will help to fill a critical gap in foodservice management and consumer decision-making," Sharma says.

ACF Pittsburgh Chapter donates $10,000 to ACF Culinary Team USA

The American Culinary Federation (ACF) Pittsburgh Chapter recently announced that it would contribute a donation of $10,000 to ACF Culinary Team USA to help cover the team's expenses at the Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung (IKA) International Culinary Art Competition, or "culinary Olympics," which were held Oct. 19–22 in Erfurt, Germany.

"ACF Pittsburgh Chapter always comes through for ACF because of its wonderful members and dedication to culinary advancement," said John Kinsella, CMC, CCE, WGMC, AAC, ACF national president. "I was honored when I received word of the donation to ACF Culinary Team USA. Our success at the 'culinary Olympics' was intertwined with the support from ACF members in Pittsburgh and across the United States."

This is the chapter's second $10,000 donation to ACF Culinary Team USA. The first was in 2004, when the chapter raised funds to support the team and one of its members, Scott Fetty, who was then a member of ACF Culinary Team USA's regional team. This year, the 250-member chapter rallied again to recognize Fetty, a member of the 2008 AAC Culinary Regional Team USA, and support all of America's "culinary Olympic" chefs. The chapter's donation was a direct result of a special fund-raising event, The Pittsburgh Olympic Chefs' Dinner, which was held at Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa., Sept. 16.

The fund-raising dinner showcased the talents and history of ACF Pittsburgh Chapter Olympic chefs through the years. Framed IKA medals, photos and biographies were displayed, and past "culinary Olympic" team members helped coordinate the event and plan menus.

Jones Dairy Farm awards two more scholarships to CIA students

Established in May 2006, the Jones Dairy Farm Scholarship Fund supports three scholarships each year at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). CIA juniors and seniors pursuing baccalaureate degrees in Culinary Arts Management can apply for the scholarship by submitting a short essay and original recipe using a Jones' product. Philip Jones, sixth-generation president of Jones Dairy Farm and a professionally trained chef, recently announced that CIA students Lance Nitahara and Bryan Kozlowski are the two most recent recipients of the Jones Dairy Farm Scholarship.

Lance Nitahara, a native of Wahiawa, Hawaii-native, plans to graduate from the CIA with a Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) degree as well as a fistful of professional certification titles—including Certified Pastry Culinarian, Certified Chef De Cuisine/PCII and the prestigious Certified Executive Chef. Nitahara came to the CIA already having earned an associates degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of the Pacific. A grueling CIA externship at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., placed him in a position normally reserved for The Greenbrier's world-famous apprenticeship program. The experience also gave him skills in Olympic-style cold food display work, which he later used to grab first place medals at International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York.

Throughout his CIA experience, Bryan Kozlowski of Pompano Beach, Fla., has excelled at every level. Graduating with an Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS) degree in May 2007, Kozlowski received the President's Award for having the highest GPA of his class and the Management Award for his performance in management focused courses. After completing his AOS degree, Kozlowski interned at Saveur Magazine. A member of Eta Sigma Delta, the school's honor society, Kozlowski is currently enrolled in the CIA's Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) degree program and is expected to graduate this Fall. Upon completion of his course work at the CIA, Kozlowski hopes to return to the publishing world, possibly in the test kitchen or editorial staff of a national consumer magazine.

New Culinary Apprentice Program from Mount Washington Resort and White Mountains Community College

New England's historic Mount Washington Resort is now offering a Culinary Apprenticeship Program, allowing apprentice students to receive associates degrees, compensation and hands-on training. In a partnership with White Mountains Community College, the new culinary-training program at Mount Washington Resort is a full-time, three-year program that prepares students for the many demanding, challenging and rewarding opportunities of the culinary world. Apprentice students can earn an associates degree in Culinary Arts through a combination of course work; lectures; and paid, on-the-job-training in a variety of culinary roles at The Resort.

One of only a handful of culinary apprentice programs in New England, the Mount Washington program requires its candidates to go through several rounds of interviews and apply for apprentice positions as if they were applying for a job. The ideal candidates are dedicated and serious culinary arts enthusiasts, and those selected will work at The Resort for three years. Students will have the opportunity to experience different areas of the kitchen, from the garde manger to pastries, and gain exceptional food-production experience. During that time, they will complete 5,000 total hours of work, in addition to taking classes at White Mountains Community College. Students are paid for their work during the program in order to simultaneously assist with tuition.

"This culinary apprenticeship opportunity gives students the right amount of hands-on training to see what it's like in the real world. At the restaurants within Mount Washington Resort, students can get the quality training they need to give them an edge in the culinary field," says Travis Giles, chef-instructor at White Mountains Community College. Program courses range from liberal arts classes to classical desserts and a la carte cookery. Culinary theory courses include table service, mixology, menu analysis and restaurant design.

Ohio restaurateur is first CIA graduate to head the school's Board of Trustees

Restaurateur and entrepreneur Cameron Mitchell, president and founder of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, was elected by fellow trustees to become the 15th Chairman of the Board of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at the college's annual meeting on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008. A 1986 CIA graduate, Mr. Mitchell (pictured, left, with Dr. Tim Ryan '77, CIA President; photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris) is the first alumnus to become Chairman of the Board of the college.

Mitchell's restaurant career has taken him from dishwasher in a steakhouse in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, to president of his own successful, multi-concept restaurant company. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants began with one restaurant in Columbus in 1993 and grew to a 33-unit company with locations in nine states. Mr. Mitchell sold his 19-unit Mitchell's Fish Market and three-unit Cameron's Steakhouse chains to Ruth's Chris Steak House for $92 million in early 2008. He now operates a catering company and 14 restaurants under seven dining concepts in Ohio, Michigan, Florida and Arizona.

Mr. Mitchell has sponsored several scholarships at the CIA, and in 2004, he provided the college with its largest gift ever from a graduate. He has been a member of the board since 1999.

The Culinary Institute of America also announced the appointment of three new trustees at the same meeting: Elizabeth Blau, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Blau & Associates, a Las Vegas, NV-based consulting firm; Lorna Donatone, president of Sodexo School Services; and Robert Muh, CEO of Sutter Securities Inc. of San Francisco, Calif.