St. Helena, CA – Matthew
Dolan, executive chef and partner of acclaimed San Francisco restaurants Twenty
Five Lusk and Tap (415), was commencement speaker at The Culinary Institute
of America at Greystone in St. Helena, CA on September 8. Dolan earned his
bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts Management at the CIA’s New York campus in 2000. Chef Dolan, who served
President Obama in 2016 at Twenty Five Lusk, reminded the newest group of
fellow alumni that hospitality is “the business of welcoming people.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the president or the guy selling
strawberries on the corner, we owe them a fantastic experience,” Dolan told recipients
of degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. “With
our food, our wine, our welcome, our attention to detail, we wash away the
negativity of their lives. We remind them that life is quite beautiful and we
really just make people happy.”
The Connecticut native began his culinary career well before
enrolling at the CIA. He was dishwasher and fry cook at a casual restaurant in
his hometown at age 14. After graduating, Dolan cooked in New York City, New
Orleans, Nantucket, and Helsinki, Finland before settling in the Bay Area. He
then partnered with CIA classmate Chad Bourdon to open Twenty Five Lusk and Tap
(415), with Bourdon serving as general manager of both restaurants.
Twenty Five Lusk was named the best new restaurant in
America by Esquire magazine in 2011
and it has been an Open Table Diner’s
Choice Top Hot Spot Restaurant since it opened in 2010.
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:
Bay area chef Matthew Dolan addresses the graduating class
of The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, CA on
September 8, 2017. (Photo credit: Charlie
Gesell/CIA)
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Writer
845-451-1372
Jeff.Levine@culinary.edu
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier
culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and
hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers bachelor’s degrees in
management, culinary arts, culinary science, and applied food studies, and
associate degrees in either culinary arts or baking and pastry arts. The
college also offers executive education through its Food Business School along
with certificate programs and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its
conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made the CIA
the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network of nearly 50,000
alumni includes innovators in every area of the food business. The CIA has
locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore
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