At NACUFS, Basic American Foods introduced innovation and fun on the menu with mini and regular-size “savory cupcakes” in two varieties: Bacon Hashbrown Cupcakes made with Golden Grill Russet™ Premium Hashbrown Potatoes and Buffalo-Chicken Meatloaf Cupcakes featuring Potato Pearls® EXCEL Original Recipe Mashed Potatoes. Prepared by PCI’s Chef Laurie Lindrup from supplied recipes, the “cupcakes” earned wide acclaim among college and university foodservice managers throughout NACUFS’ two-day trade show.

“The state-of-the-art facilities and innovative culinary and wine curricula of the Professional Culinary Institute reflect the future of the foodservice industry,” said Mike Villano, vice president of sales for Basic American Foods. “We’re proud to support PCI’s continuing efforts to train exceptional culinarians who will help shape and define U.S. foodways.”

Renee Zonka, RD, CEC, CHE, managing director and associate dean of the School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College, has been inducted into the Chicago chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), an organization of woman leaders in the food, beverage and hospitality industry.

Induction into LDEI is by invitation only. Named for legendary French chef, restaurateur and culinary writer Georges Auguste Escoffier, Les Dames d'Escoffier inspires women to develop their leadership skills in culinary professions.

LDEI, established in 1986 and based in Louisville, Ky., has more than 1,500 members in 27 chapters across the United States and Canada. Through chapter fund-raising efforts, nearly $4 million has been awarded in grants and scholarships and other philanthropic endeavors that support women in their career goals and provide funding for community-based services.

USA Rice Federation’s education guide—“U.S. Rice in the Culinary Classroom: The Complete Guide for Food Educators and Professionals”—was awarded the 2010 International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Award of Excellence for best education materials of the year, at IACP’s annual conference in Portland, Ore., this spring.

USA Rice Federation’s education guide—“U.S. Rice in the Culinary Classroom: The Complete Guide for Food Educators and Professionals”—was awarded the 2010 International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Award of Excellence for best education materials of the year, at IACP’s annual conference in Portland, Ore., this spring.

By Lynn Schwartz

As we enter new positions, many of us (including graduates just starting out) will want to hurry to implement our passions and agendas for change. Dr. Linda Schaumann Reese explained at CAFÉ’s recent Leadership Conference why this common approach is NOT a recipe for success.

Businesses spend millions of dollars investing in new leaders, but research shows that many of these enthusiastic, qualified leaders will fail. With the hospitality industry expanding and diversifying, higher levels of education and expectations are required. Chefs need to be more than cooks; they need to be strong, effective leaders. What keeps leaders from succeeding and what can you do differently to avoid failure?

Winners of a recipe contest developed by CAFÉ and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board will enhance chef-instructors' cheese knowledge in August to better prepare tomorrow’s chefs to meet diner demand for healthier, flavorful fare.

Following a call-out “To Honor the Healthy Menu” in a joint recipe contest created by CAFÉ and Madison-based Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), winners will participate in an all-expenses-paid “cheese immersion” August 15-18, 2010.

By Samuel Glass, M.Ed., CEC, CCE, AAC

One of the more unique benefits of using case studies in teaching is the “investment of mental energy,” which ultimately results in enhancing critical-thinking skills.

As an educator, I have found that too often there is a perceived difference between the theory being taught in the classroom and the reality of industry. One way to address that gap is the use of case studies. In using case studies, the lessons learned from reality can be used as part of a theoretical approach to learning that focuses not only on the concept of learning from mistakes, but the application of best practices, as well.

Dr. Peter Szende, from Boston University, is the author of Case Scenarios in Hospitality Supervision (Delmar Cengage Learning, 2010). At the recent CAFÉ Leadership Conference, Szende facilitated a breakout session titled “Using Case Studies to Bridge the Gap between Classroom and Industry” in support of his recently published book. The book is based on the journaling of his experiences and personal challenges during his hospitality career prior to academia.

Courtesy of The Perishables Group

Berries, now available year-round, are the largest-selling item in the produce department of grocery stores, and the tomato category has been transformed by newly introduced varieties and innovations in packaging. And then there’s “living” lettuce.

The fresh-produce industry has changed tremendously in recent years, most notably with the growth of value-added options, new varieties and the proliferation of branding. The Perishables Group, an industry-leading consulting firm in the fresh-foods business, identified five produce items to watch in 2010. These items are evolving and appealing because they capitalize on current trends such as health, convenience and sustainability. Here are the fresh produce items to watch:

By Lynn Schwartz

At CAFÉ’s 2010 Leadership Conference, the president of The Culinary Institute of America revealed a food democracy afoot: an endless variety of great foods served quickly, anywhere, anytime to anyone.

From the helm of The Culinary Institute of America, Dr. Timothy Ryan, CMC, has a unique vantage point—an overview of a rapidly diversifying hospitality industry. A 1977 graduate of the prestigious CIA, Ryan is the first alumnus and first faculty member to become president. Throughout his career, he has received numerous gold medals in international competitions and captained the team that won the World Championship at the 1988 “Culinary Olympics.” He was also among the youngest chefs to become a Certified Master Chef and the youngest president of the American Culinary Federation.

By Christopher Koetke, CEC, CCE

Technology Center of DuPage wins the second-annual CAFÉ/Kendall Green Award.

As instructors, we plant seeds of knowledge each day that we hope bloom in our students. And once in a while, they do the same for us. So it was with Faith Jennetta, program coordinator and baking instructor for a high-school program, the Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) based in Addison, Ill., and recipient of this year’s CAFÉ/Kendall Green Award.

The award was presented at the CAFÉ Leadership Conference held in Baltimore at the end of June. Peggy Ryan, chef instructor and executive chef of The Dining Room at Kendall College, presented the award, which consisted of a plaque and a $1,000 cash prize provided by Kendall College. In presenting the award, Ryan said, “Faith is such an inspiration to her students and I know that she will also inspire educators with her successes in sustainability.”