In an era of social networking, having real conversations and deepening your connections with people takes skill and will. But the byproducts are new energy and excitement—and being heard.

By Dr. Fred Mayo, CHE, CHT

Last month, this column discussed helping students connect with ideas; this month we turn the focus to ourselves and discuss our connections with other persons—a fitting subject for your summer when you have a chance to slow down and reflect on what you do and why you do it. I hope this column encourages you to expand your reflections.

Meaning of Connection
Currently, when we think of being connected, we typically refer to the forms of social media and the ways we use them. It means we are proud of using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare and other programs. We also look for suggestions about how to maximize the benefits of being electronically connected since that means being up to date and technologically literate.

Here are the remaining five of 10 critical things you must teach your students if you want them to earn meaningful jobs, plus some sound advice on how to interact with potential employers.

By Adam Weiner, CFSE

Last issue I explained that it is critical to not only teach your students technical skills, but also the soft skills needed to get a job, keep a job and prosper in life. I suggested that you spend the summer revising and updating your curriculum to add job-searching skills. I published the first five things to teach, and now here are the remaining five:

Seattle Culinary Academy and UMass Dining recognized for innovations in sustainability.

Kendall College in Chicago and the Annapolis, Md.-based Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ) on June 24 presented the 2012 CAFÉ/Kendall College Green Award to Seattle Culinary Academy, a division of Seattle Central Community College, at the CAFÉ Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Chef-instructor Keijiro Miyata, CEC, CCE, AAC, accepted the award on behalf of Seattle Culinary Academy from Christopher Koetke, CEC, CCE, HAAC, vice president of the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts and Laureate International Universities Center of Excellence in Culinary Arts.

“Seattle Culinary Academy was one of the first culinary schools in the nation to offer formal coursework in sustainability, highlighting the value of local and seasonal sourcing,” Koetke said. “The program is exceptional because it integrates health and environmental sustainability throughout the educational experience.”

Recognized for its elegance and flavor, lamb is a favorite protein of chefs across the globe.  While most chefs think of rack of lamb, today’s economy as well as a desire to utilize the whole carcass challenges chefs to look at some of the lesser-known and economical cuts.

By Christopher Heath Stone, CEC, MEd

The shoulder is one of the most affordable cuts of lamb. A square-cut bone-in shoulder can be barbecued, braised or slow roasted. It can also be broken down in a variety of ways to create shoulder arm and blade chops, shoulder ribs or various BRT roasts. Lamb-shoulder meat is also commonly used to create kabob and stew meat, as well as grind.

Brendan Walsh, a celebrated chef in New York City and around the country before joining the faculty of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), has been promoted to serve as the college’s dean of culinary arts. In his new position, he oversees curriculum development and management of the CIA’s culinary-arts education and is responsible for the quality of academic programming, services and staffing of culinary-arts courses.

“Chef Walsh has demonstrated himself to be a consummate professional with a strong commitment to the college,” said CIA Provost Mark Erickson, CMC. “He is the perfect person to fill this important role at the college—one that is responsible for keeping the CIA’s culinary education unparalleled and will ensure the continued high value of a CIA degree.”

A 1980 CIA graduate, Walsh returned to his alma mater in 2008 as a faculty member and, later, associate dean. Before that, he was the owner and executive chef of Elms Restaurant & Tavern in Ridgefield, Conn., North Street Grill in Great Neck, N.Y., and Coyote Grill in Island Park, N.Y., as well as the founder and president of Chef Brendan Walsh Services/FWF Consulting. Earlier in his career, Walsh held top positions at highly regarded restaurants throughout the United States, including executive chef of Arizona 206 in New York City, Water’s Edge in Long Island City, N.Y., and Ancient Mariner in Florida, Connecticut and New York. He was also chef of Gotham Bar & Grill in New York City and sous chef at Stars in San Francisco.

The first-ever Bite of Apprenticeship program, sponsored by the Washington State Chefs Association, brought in $5,000 in scholarship funds, attracted media attention and recognized the work of Seattle-area culinary students and apprentices.

The apprenticeship program provides 700 hours of classroom work for those already employed in the foodservice industry. Apprentices are sponsored by their restaurants and attend classes at Renton Technical College in addition to their restaurant work. Apprentices from Joey’s Restaurant, Earl’s Restaurant and No Junk – Good Food, Inc., a school catering company, and the Columbia Tower Club participated in the event, which offered bites of an amazing variety of preparations.

Kendall College announces that Chef Jose Garces, a 1996 graduate of the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts, Food Network Iron Chef and James Beard Award winner, will deliver the commencement address at its 2012 graduation ceremony, to be held on June 24 at Chicago Symphony Center Orchestra Hall. The college will award degrees to more than 400 students in the Schools of Business, Culinary Arts, Education and Hospitality Management.

“I’m proud to welcome Chef Garces as our 2012 commencement speaker,” said Emily Knight, president of Kendall College. “As a Kendall College alum, Jose is not only an inspiration to our students who are on the verge of beginning their professional careers, but also a testament to our outstanding faculty and staff’s commitment to preparing our students for success.”

Emmi Roth USA, the U.S. division of the premium Swiss dairy company, announces the winner of its recipe contest that challenged postsecondary culinary-arts students to create a dish with Emmi Kaltbach Cave-aged Le Gruyère Switzerland AOC. The winning dish, a gluten-free, cayenne-spiced Le Gruyère waffle with quince syrup, was created by Titus Edwards, 21, a student at Central Carolina Community College in Carrboro, N.C. The recipe, which perfectly blends the earthiness of Le Gruyère with the heat of cayenne and sweetness of quince, is on-trend in the culinary world through its address of the increasing sensitivity to gluten among consumers, as well its versatility—pairing well with fried chicken as breakfast-for-dinner, or with eggs and sausage for a sophisticated brunch meal.

Sullivan University’s National Center for Hospitality Studies (NCHS) in Louisville, Ky., honored Ghyslain Maurais of Union City, Ind.-based Ghyslain Chocolatier with the prestigious Distinguished Visiting Chef award on May 17. As recipient of the award, Maurais presented on-campus cooking demonstrations in addition to a question-and-answer session 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. Maurais is the 51st recipient of the award, joining an impressive roster of chefs that includes Bob Kinkead, Emeril Lagasse, Louis Osteen, Rick Tramonto and Marcel Desaulniers.

A career educator with 42 years in the food business divulges “musts” to achieve the critical successful relationship between culinary graduate and employer.

By Paul Sorgule, MS, AAC

Even with unemployment looming as one of our country’s greatest challenges, restaurants, hotels and resorts still struggle to find enough qualified, professionally committed individuals to staff their kitchen brigades. Last count there were somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 schools in the United States with culinary programs. Why is there still a gap between supply and demand?

This year marks my 42^nd year in some facet of the food business. I spent 10 years in kitchens from line cook to executive chef after a two-year college program in hotel management. Twenty-six years followed in college-level culinary education beginning as instructor and finishing as the dean of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. During that time I completed both baccalaureate and master’s degrees in related fields and dedicated a few weeks each year working in kitchens to stay fresh. I worked diligently with the American Culinary Federation to earn accreditation for the program, served a few years on the Accreditation Committee and was appointed as the chair of the ACF National Education Committee. This time in education afforded me the opportunity to serve as a member of the 1988 New England Culinary Olympic Team and in 2001 was honored as the ACF National Culinary Educator of the Year.