Sullivan University’s National Center for Hospitality Studies (NCHS) honored Chef Colby Garrelts of bluestem Restaurant in Kansas City with the prestigious Distinguished Visiting Chef award on November 10. As recipient of the award, Garrelts presented on-campus cooking demonstrations, book signings and question-and-answer sessions held exclusively for Sullivan University students.

Designed to connect today’s aspiring culinarians with industry leaders, The Distinguished Visiting Chef Series has been recognizing three top chefs annually since its inception in 1988. Garrelts is the 41st recipient of the award, joining an impressive roster of chefs that includes Bob Kinkead, Emeril Lagasse, Louis Osteen, Rick Tramonto and Marcel Desaulniers.

Garrelts, who has been nominated several times for Best Chef Midwest by the James Beard Foundation and was named by Food & Wine magazine as one of the Top 10 Best New Chefs in 2005, obtained his culinary education in kitchens across the country. A native of Kansas City, Garrelts cooked at two prestigious private clubs, the famed American Restaurant, and the legendary Stolen Grill while attending culinary school. He developed a taste for big-city cuisine, small-business acumen and the aspiration to see what culinary experiences he could acquire in larger cities. With all of this on his mind, Garrelts moved to Chicago in 1999, where he became the senior sous chef at the five-star, five-diamond restaurant TRU under nationally acclaimed chefs Rick Tramanto and Gale Gand. At TRU, Garrelts honed his technical skills, developed his culinary style and met his future wife/partner Megan Schultz.

For those who have always wanted to learn the art of bread baking, The French Culinary Institute’s November 1 release of The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Bread Baking (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2011, ISBN: 978-1-58479-934-4, $65.00/Can. $75.00) is the perfect cookbook. An indispensable addition to any serious home-baker’s library, The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Bread Baking is a glimpse into the exclusive French Culinary Institute’s intensive 12-week bread-baking course. Created in 1997, this course is taught by some of today’s greatest artisanal bread bakers and regarded as one of the top programs in the world.

The first half of the book introduces the reader to terms, basic techniques and “The Fourteen Steps of Bread Making.” Armed with this knowledge, readers are then given step-by-step instructions (with photos) to classic recipes for French, Italian, German, Middle European and gluten-free breads. Ranging from the familiar (straight baguette) to haute cuisine (carta di musica), this title is encyclopedic in both scope and format. Among its 352 pages are 300 color photographs.

Demonstration Hall on the campus of Michigan State University was the site of a world record-breaking line of—believe it or not—tacos. And two students in The School of Hospitality Business demonstrated their perseverance, persuasive powers and organizational skills by spending nearly eight months orchestrating the memorable event, which occurred on September 30 and fulfilled the Guinness Book of World Records requirements.

Nate Redner (BA ’12) and Luke Magnini (BA ’12) came up with the idea when they watched a YouTube video detailing the record set by Dining Services at Emory University, which was 260 tacos, totaling 121 feet. They worked with alum and MSU Culinary Services’ corporate chef Kurt Kwiatkowski (BA ’96, MS ’05) on the project.

Two students at Sullivan University’s National Center for Hospitality Studies (NCHS) won gold medals at the 2011 Music City Challenge, the American Culinary Federation-sponsored competition that took place September 27 and 28 in Nashville.

Kelsee Newman and Kenna Nelson represented Sullivan University’s Baking and Pastry Arts program, presenting a display in petit fours and an Alice in Wonderland sculpture produced from fat. The students were evaluated by certified ACF chef judges Paul C. Jensen, II, CEC, CCA, AAC, Wolfgang Bierer, CMPC, CEC, CCE, AAC, and Roland E. Schaeffer, CEC, AAC, HOF.

“A gold medal is thrilling in its own right, but it's the caliber of judging behind it that makes it noteworthy,” said Nelson. “We are honored that the talented, experienced and award-winning team of judges were impressed by us! But we couldn't have done it without the chefs at Sullivan who invested in us during our preparation.”

Kendall College has named Gwen Hillesheim, Ed.D., as provost. In this role, Hillesheim will serve as the academic leader of the Chicago-based institution that offers degrees in business, culinary arts, early childhood education and hospitality management. She replaces Dr. Karen Gersten, president of Kendall College, who served as provost for the last four years.

Hillesheim, who officially began her new role at Kendall on September 1, 2011, has more than 30 years of experience as an academic administrator with extensive expertise in policy development and implementation, student services, academic oversight, assessment, faculty management, curriculum review and accreditation processes. She previously served as vice provost at Colorado Technical University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Hillesheim to Kendall College,” says Gersten. “She is a skilled communicator who believes in team empowerment, modeling leadership and exhibiting a high level of integrity. Plus, she brings with her amazing energy and a vast academic background. The entire Kendall community will benefit from her ideas, leadership and diverse program experience.”

Project Reinvent, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) popular foodservice advertising campaign, was the recent recipient of Produce Business’ 23rd Annual Marketing Excellence Award. It was one of 20 campaigns recognized by the magazine.

Project Reinvent was recognized for revitalizing the potato in the eyes of foodservice industry professionals by showcasing how Idaho® potatoes can be used in a diverse array of exciting and modern recipes. The IPC teamed up with top chefs and award-winning photographers to create a tantalizing collection of mouth-watering print ads.

Creative recipes, like the Potato Stuffed 1 lb. Burger by Executive Chef Craig “Andy” Beardslee of Hash House A Go Go in San Diego, were featured in foodservice publications as part of the IPC’s Project Reinvent campaign. Recipes like Harvest Hash by Ann Cooper, aka “The Renegade Lunch Lady,” in the Boulder Valley School District, and Chef Bryce Rademan’s (of Spitz in Los Angeles) Street-Cart Fries encourage culinary professionals to make Idaho® potatoes a mainstay on their menus. The Project Reinvent ad theme has illuminated the pages of foodservice trade publications for more than five years and continues to inspire chefs all over the country to include potatoes across all day-parts.