From the President

By Chef Ron Ahlert

Thanks to everyone for another great Grazing with the Chefs event! In its fourteenth year, this year’s Grazing was once again a successful event, marked by a large crowd and cuisine to die for! Also, congratulations to all of this year’s winning students. The International IFSEA conference will be held in April. This year the event will be in Reno, Nevada. Agnew Hopkins and a group of students from Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte will be attending the international conference.

Both the International and Charlotte branches of IFSEA are accepting student scholarship applications for 2010. Application forms can be obtained online at www.ifsea.org

IFSEA wishes to express our appreciation to all the schools, students, sponsors, vendors, members, and all others who provide support to this great organization. We especially want to thank Phillip Broome and his wonderful staff at Charlotte Hospitality News for the forum they provide, and their consistent dedication to help make Charlotte the best.

We look forward to seeing you at future IFSEA events in Charlotte.

Culinary Education Tour 2010 To Kickoff in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte’s own catering and event planning company, Chateau Noir, LLC, has announced plans to bring The Culinary Education Tour 2010 to the city this summer. This event serves as an opportunity to network with prominent culinary industry professionals while uplifting today’s youth to learn more about a perspective career in the culinary field. The Culinary Education Tour is a non-profit showcase and tradeshow, created to strengthen the knowledge of those interested in a culinary career while raising awareness of the limitless opportunities available to them. Not only is the event an opportunity for underprivileged youth to network with prominent culinary industry professionals, it also enables young adults to learn more about a perspective career in the culinary field.

The Culinary Education Tour 2010 was designed to enlighten and support aspiring culinary industry specialists with informative sessions regarding GED Assistance Programs, interview and resume writing assistance as well as information on the topic of culinary school enrollment. Professional chefs will also be present during the event to provide an array of cooking demonstrations and to exhibit the processes of making distinctive dishes. Industry professionals will also be readily available to assist with various Q&A sessions.

Another noteworthy aspect of the tour is the Joseph V. Jones Culinary Scholarship Award, for young adults pursuing a profession within the culinary industry. The award will be paid directly to the program or institution that the recipient is attending and may also be utilized to cover educational expenses for books, tuition, and/or room and board. The ultimate goal of the Culinary Education Tour is to use food as an outreach to help those that can not help themselves. Chateau Noir’s aim is to assist the Charlotte community through a scholarship fundraiser and a culinary education event. The event is set to take place on Saturday, August 7th, 2010 at The Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tour attendees ages 8-18 are admitted free. There will be a $5.00 admission fee for anyone 19 and above. Group discounts are also available.

To learn more about the Joseph V. Jones Culinary Scholarship Award or for information on volunteering and sponsorship please visit the Culinary Education Tour 2010’s official site at www.ChateauNoirLLC.com/tour2010 or contact media@chateaunoirllc.com.

“We enhance the careers of our members through professional and personal growth.”

What is IFSEA
The International Food Service Executives Association is a professional organization with more than one-thousand professionals world-wide from the foodservice and hospitality industry.
Our vision is to serve the industry as a membership based organization promoting people, programs, businesses, and services that consistently raise the level of professionalism within foodservice and hospitality.
Established in 1901, IFSEA is the industry’s oldest professional association. IFSEA’s mission is to enhance the careers of its members through professional and personal development by providing professional certification, educational opportunities, networking parties, mentoring, and community service. Activities also include international conferences, culinary competitions, food service excellence awards, student development, food safety education, and much more.
IFSEA has been a proud partner of the U.S. Military for more than 50 years. The association assists the joint services of the Army, Navy, and Military Sealift Command by providing evaluations of Military food service programs, educational food classes, culinary competitions, and the Military Awards for Culinary Excellence.

IFSEA Core Areas of Focus

• Networking opportunities offered in a comfortable atmosphere that removes the intimidation of meeting new people
• Enhancing foodservice and hospitality industry
• Educational seminars, training programs, and industry trends

• Foodservice & Hospitality Certification

• Provide new and diverse business alliances

• Student programs and scholarships

• Foodservice Industry Awards

• Annual IFSEA Conference & Trade Show
• Charitable events that give back to our local communities