CAFÉ Update September 21, 2026
21 September 2026CAFÉ Conference Recap: Attendee Highlights and What’s Next
The 2026 CAFÉ Conference, hosted by Kendall College at National Louis University, continues to receive strong positive feedback from attendees and sponsors. Participants highlighted the quality of the programming, the Chicago location, and the value of connecting with fellow educators.
Highlights from attendee feedback included:
“Very interesting and well-organized conference. Great choice of location. Thank you.”
“I may have to stop attending CAFÉ. I have so many new ideas I’m making more work for myself!”
“Great conference – the best one yet! Thank you all for the hard work!”
“Great conference. I loved getting different perspectives and advice from educators across the county. It would be great to have online access to the breakout sessions that we could not attend.”
“Thank you for all you do. I really look forward to this conference every year.”
Planning is also underway for the 2027 CAFÉ Conference, and we look forward to sharing additional details as they become available.
Thank you for your continued support in making CAFÉ a meaningful and successful experience each year.
Mary Petersen
Executive Editor, Gold Medal Classroom
President, Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education
Our host, Paul Sorgule has spearheaded this podcast and has done a wonderful job. He has interviewed over 100 of the most influential people in education, culinary classrooms, the foodservice industry, leadership, innovation, culinary history, and management – there is something for everyone to relish and use.
Have you thought about integrating the CAFÉ Talks Podcast into your student curriculum for an assignment? Have you thought "I really wish I could remember which podcast pertained to a certain subject?"
Paul Sorgule, has created an organized chart that demonstrates where each interview might apply in your classrooms as assignments or a point of reference for faculty.
We could not have produced this podcast series if it wasn't for our sponsors who we thank very much for their continued support of CAFÉ.
For our complete lineup of podcast or to subscribe, go to www.CafeMeetingPlace.com/cafe-podcasts.
For video peeks of our launched episodes, go to our Facebook page, CafeMeetingPlace.
CAFÉ CONTACT INFORMATION
Mary Petersen, President, CAFÉ; Executive Editor, The Gold Medal Classroom
(410) 268-5542 (office)
(443) 994-8228 (cell)
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Lisa Parrish, Editor, The Gold Medal Classroom
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Mary Young, Administrative Assistant
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Paul Sorgule, Host, CAFETalks Podcast
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