CIA alumni are always cooking up something interesting, and with a network of more than 50,000 strong, there鈥檚 never a shortage of highlights!
Openings, Events, and New Beginnings
Aubrey 鈥13 and Tyler 鈥14 O鈥橪askey, who met while studying at CIA, were spotlighted in a Food & Wine article on the Reno, NV, food scene. The couple founded Perenn Bakery in 2018 as a side hustle to their catering business. The bakery became a success and now has three locations.
Miami鈥檚 Community News reported on the opening of Kojin 2.0, a highly anticipated restaurant by chef couple Pedro 鈥21 and Katherine 鈥20 Mederos, in Coral Gables, FL. The couple met while at CIA.
American R&B and soul singer Aaron Neville visited Essie鈥檚 Restaurant, owned by CIA graduate Chef Brandon Walker 鈥01.
Herald Tribune reported that Paul Mattison 鈥87 planned to open Mattison鈥檚, an upscale restaurant with a focus on sustainable sourcing, at Sarasota Bradenton Airport.
Four Seasons Resort in Nevis, West Indies, announced that Rocco DiSpirito 鈥86 would be performing a three-night residency from November 26鈥29.
Richmond Bizsense reported on Yero Rudzinskas鈥檚 鈥04 plans at the time to openBaltik鈥檚 bagels as a quick-service restaurant.
Best of New Jersey released a list of the 鈥淏est French Restaurants in New Jersey,鈥 which included James Laird鈥檚 鈥90 restaurant, Serenade.
The Times Herald-Record reviewed six new mid-Hudson restaurants and bars. Among them was Ryan Viator鈥檚 鈥08 restaurant, Barbue, a Cajun restaurant that recently opened in Eastdale Village.
Gambit reported that Sophia Petrou and Adolfo Garcia 鈥15 opened a Korean-style fried chicken restaurant: Chi Chi鈥檚 Chicken & Beer.
In a roundup of local Napa Valley News, The Press Democrat shared the expanded menu of Proper Plates, a vendor at Napa Farmers Market, which added a variety of sourdough toasts with bread made in-house by Gina Gonzales 鈥20.
Tuscan Foodie reported that Davis Matias 鈥00 opened a new restaurant, Victoria Cocina Mexicana, with his family in northern Tuscan, AZ, and shared the menu.
Bangor Daily News reported that Devin Dearden 鈥13 and his partner, Hannah Adams, planned to open a restaurant that served American cuisine in Camden, ME. Dearden and Adams noted that although they had not decided on an opening date, the restaurant would be named Winona, after their cat.
San Antonio Express News reported that High Horse, a Texas barbeque restaurant, named Mara Serna 鈥10 and Laura Loomis as its pitmasters.
A roundup of new restaurants in Delaware by Delaware Online included the opening of the fourth location of 322 BBQ and Hill Donut co., founded by David Wiederholt 鈥97.
Awards and Accolades
Food & Wine named Geoff Davis鈥檚 鈥09 Oakland, CA, restaurant, Burdell, best restaurant of the year.
Multiple syndications reported the Dilly Duck Shop at 666 Main Ave in Norwalk, owned by Russ Zappala 鈥06 and his mother Phyllis, was named one of the best sandwich shops in the U.S. by Yelp.
The James Beard Foundation announced the 2024 Fall Women鈥檚 Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) cohort, which included Caroline Glover 鈥08 and Sara Quinteros 鈥12. The program was a ten-week virtual program and extensive curriculum, in which participants worked to refine and articulate their goals and vision for growth.
The FSR recognized Gabe Kennedy 鈥10 as one of the top 40 Rising Stars under age 40.
In a USA Today poll, Bolyard鈥檚 Meat & Provisions, owned by Chris Bolyard 鈥00, was named the third best butcher shop in the United States.
Lee Rankin 鈥96 was inducted into the Western North Carolina Hall of Fame for her leadership and expertise in agricultural tourism.
Worcester Technical High School in Worcester, MA, named Kimberly Youkstetter 鈥88 鈥淭eacher of the Year.鈥
The New York Times released their list of America鈥檚 Best Restaurants 2024. Among the best restaurants are Quince, with Chef and Owner Michael Tusk 鈥89 and Service Manager Neev Behal 鈥22; L鈥橭range, with Chef and Owner Joel Stocks 鈥07 and Chef Nick Duff 鈥07; and Penny NYC with Chef Joshua Pinsky 鈥05.
Interviews and Profiles
Roy Yamaguchi 鈥76 was interviewed by Travel Writers Radio. In the interview, he discussed how Hawaiian cuisine could develop into its own style utilizing local ingredients.
Cynthia Chaplin interviewed Lucia Palm 鈥13 on the Italian Wine Podcast. Palm noted that she first became interested in wine in her mandatory wines course at CIA.
The Courier & Press reported that Evan Mooney 鈥11 planned to open a new Latin cuisine restaurant, Sazon Y Fuego, in Newburgh by the end of September.
Tribeca Citizen interviewed Andrew Carmellini 鈥91 about the renovations to his restaurant, Locanda Verde. When asked what asked about his culinary journey, Carmellini noted that he attended CIA and studied in Italy after graduating.
East Bay RI interviewed Cruz Goler 鈥98 who returned to Bristol to run Judge Roy Bean Saloon. Goler expressed a desire to rebrand the bar while ensuring its roots are respected.
Great Day Houston interviewed Edy Massih 鈥15. In the interview, he discussed the release of his new book on Lebanese cuisine, Keep It Zesty.
Time Magazine interviewed Amar Santana 鈥02 about his career path from childhood to winning second place in Season 13 of Top Chef. Santana said that winning a full tuition scholarship to CIA was 鈥渢he American Dream come true.鈥
Creative Mornings Charleston shared a talk by Courtney and Michael Zentner 鈥01 about starting their business, The Drifter, at the height of the pandemic.
To the Point interviewed Ernesto Delgado 鈥22, for a segment during Hispanic Heritage Month in which he revealed his plans to open eight restaurants and create greater accessibility to Cesar Chavez Park to increase community involvement.
Making a Difference
Food & Wine profiled Brandon Chrostowski鈥檚 鈥01, EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, a fine-dining restaurant and educational program that trains incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in culinary, dining, and hospitality. Chrostowski was a 2023 James Beard finalist for outstanding restaurateur.
Chrostowski 鈥01 also announced a new initiative to open The Friars鈥 Table, a monastic-themed restaurant from Cleveland Capuchin Ministries. The restaurant is a collaboration between the Cleveland Capuchin Ministries and Chrostowski鈥檚EDWINS.
Eyewitness News reported that Charleston, WV, Mayor Amy Goodwin presented Paul Smith 鈥02 with key to the city of Charleston for his dedication towards efforts that elevated West Virginia鈥檚 culinary industry.
Dreams Do Come True
Multiple sources reported that Oceania Cruises announced the first two members to its culinary advisory board: Sara Moulton 鈥77 and Kathryn Kelly 鈥10.
Chowhound released a list of 13 restaurants in the U.S. with three Michelin stars, which included Grant Achatz鈥檚 鈥94 Alinea.
In a look inside the luxury Chatwal Lodge in the Catskills, Forbes listed Karl Ulmer鈥檚 鈥82 seasonal farm-to-table menus as a reason to visit.
The Heat of Competition
The Detroit News reported Chef Gabriella Baldwin 鈥14 would compete on the Food Network Show, Last Bite Hotel, where eight chefs have only 13 ingredients to last their entire stay at a hotel.