Chef-Owner of San
Antonio’s Cured Speaks at Commencement
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu
San Antonio, TX – Steven McHugh, who graduated from The Culinary Institute of America’s Hyde Park, NY campus in 1997, provided
advice and encouragement to the college’s newest alumni on July 3. Chef McHugh
delivered the commencement address at the CIA’s San Antonio campus at the Pearl
Brewery complex, which is also home to Cured, his new restaurant that opened in
late 2013.
“You have shown you are committed,” McHugh told recipients
of associate degrees in culinary arts. “What’s important is to take what you have learned and build
on it.”
Cured is a sustainable, seasonal restaurant chosen by both San Antonio Current and the readers of the Express-News as Best New Restaurant for 2014 and as one of Eater National’s Restaurants to Watch.
The Walworth, WI native advised the graduating class to get
involved in the community, as he did
following Hurricane Katrina, serving hundreds of meals to relief workers in New
Orleans. His final piece of advice was to “do it before it’s too late.” Chef
McHugh was just 34 when he was diagnosed with lymphoma four years ago. After
completing chemotherapy, he said it was time to realize his dream of opening
his own restaurant.
In fact, Cured refers to both McHugh’s triumph over cancer
and the house-made meats served at the restaurant.
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image
Chef Steven McHugh speaks to graduates at The Culinary
Institute of America, San Antonio on July 3. McHugh is a 1997 graduate of the
college's Hyde Park campus. (Photo
credit: Darren Abate/CIA)
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an independent,
not-for-profit college offering associate and bachelor's degrees with majors in
culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and culinary science, as well as
certificate programs in culinary arts and wine and beverage studies. As the
world's premier culinary college, the CIA provides thought leadership in the
areas of health & wellness, sustainability, and world cuisines &
cultures through research and conferences. The CIA has a network of 46,000
alumni that includes industry leaders such as Grant Achatz,
Anthony Bourdain, Roy Choi, Cat Cora, Dan Coudreaut, Steve Ells, Charlie Palmer, and Roy Yamaguchi. The CIA also offers courses for
professionals and enthusiasts, as well as consulting services in support of
innovation for the foodservice and hospitality industry. The college has
campuses in Hyde Park, NY; St. Helena, CA; San Antonio, TX; and Singapore.
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