Plugrá® European-Style Butter hosted Della Gossett, chef instructor at The French Pastry School at City Colleges of Chicago and former executive pastry chef of Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago, for a culinary demonstration at the American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Convention, Aug. 2-5 in Anaheim, Calif. During “Trade Secrets for Exquisite Plated Desserts,” the renowned pastry chef explored how to create innovative menu-enhancing desserts, drawing inspiration from fresh seasonal ingredients, classic recipes, and contemporary influences.

With a standing-room-only audience of chefs, educators and students, Gossett shared how a simple, traditional peach tart with brown butter and pecans can be transformed into a sophisticated plated dessert of seasonal peaches with brown butter ice cream and thyme. “The secret is in the basic elements of the tart—the peaches and the brown butter and pâte à foncer, or pie dough, made with Plugrá European-Style Butter,” she says. “Using those same elements, but with an inspired twist, the result is an inventive new dessert that is impactful both on the plate and on the tongue.”

Twenty-five culinary programs across the United States and in the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Switzerland received initial and renewal programmatic accreditation by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) Accrediting Commission at the Commission’s meeting in July in Colorado Springs, Colo.

When Rochelle Huppin enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in 1985, she was not comfortable in the polyester student-issue chef's uniforms of the day. With a doctor's note saying she was allergic to synthetic fabrics, she was allowed to wear a pair of handmade all-cotton houndstooth print pants.

Twenty-five years later, Huppin returned to the scene of her discomfort to inspire a new class of CIA alumni. She delivered the commencement address to 63 recipients of CIA associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts on Friday, Sept. 10.

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has released a new resource, titled “Like Their Fathers Before Them.” This 10-page brochure, designed for foodservice operators, shares the stories of four families who make their living fishing for Alaska’s wild seafood.

Sullivan University’s National Center for Hospitality Studies (NCHS) is proud to announce that alumnus Robin Richardson has been hired as head chef and manager of the school’s retail bakery, The Bakery at Sullivan University. Richardson brings considerable experience with specialty cakes to The Bakery, and customers can expect to find new offerings like full size cakes, cake by the slice, pies and expanded lunch selections alongside classic favorite pastries and candies.

Three Illinois high-school students—coached by Kendall College’s School of Culinary Arts—earned the distinction of top culinary team in America at the national Culinary Arts STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) competition during the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) 2010 National Leadership Conference at Kendall College here in July.