"Crawl" with Paul Barron of Portland Restaurants Effectively Using Social Media Aug 11

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Join Paul Barron (@paulbarron), Publisher of Fast Casual Magazine and the USA’s leading influence on social media and the restaurant industry, and Jeffrey J Kingman, CEO of Chalkboarder, on August 11th as we “crawl” restaurants in Portland OR that are effectively using the social web to build community.

Paul Barron, Producer

Paul, presenting “Web 4 Era for the Hospitality Industry” at Lola’s Room in SE Portland that evening (hosted by Social Media Club PDX – details here) is producing a “Day in the Life of a Social Web Content Producer”, using video interviews and journalizing. He’ll begin the day departing the Northwest Sustainability Discovery Conference in Salem, meeting with Geoff Latham of Nicky USA, lunching at Oregon Culinary Institute, “crawling” the Portland restaurant social media scene and presenting at Social Media Club PDX’s August get-together.

In addition, he will be live-streaming the Social Media Club PDX event that night. Details to follow on the live-streaming.

All restaurant, hotel, hospitality, public relations, marketing and social media professionals interested in the application of social web tools, theory and technology for the food and hospitality industries are welcome to join us for this crawl the afternoon of Aug 11th. We’ll announce an itinerary on August 4 via social media.

Please contact Jeffrey J Kingman at (503) 481-2479 or jkingman@chalkboarder.com for additional details.

## ^jk

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Using Social Media to Monitor Your Competition

By Jeffrey J Kingman, CEO Chalkboarder, written for and published by Inside F&B Magazine.

Most Chefs and Restaurateurs are strong competitors. Our restaurant communities may be full of camaraderie and industry friendships but, like street pickup basketball games on the corner, we’re highly competitive. We wouldn’t put in 60 to 100 hour weeks if we weren’t.

Every strong competitor has highly developed situational awareness and observation skills. Along our careers in hospitality, our coaches, the industry trainers and mentors, honed these competitive skills in us repeatedly. Today, in the new era of Web 4.0, the competitive advantages of using social media include discovering what others are saying right now about your competition and your operation, staying on top of your competition’s latest news, and ruthless as it sounds, reaching out to your competitor’s dissatisfied guests to invite them to your place.

As much as we work hard to train staff, execute creative and effective team leadership and positively surmount daily organizational challenges, we also have to have our eyes and….

To finish reading the article please visit it here at Inside F&B Magazine.

PDX Food Trucks Experience 80% Growth Via Twitter

I talked with two of Portland Oregon’s leading street food trucks last week, the day after CNN Travel stated that Portland has the best street food in the world.

Check out what they have to say about street food – and how social media, especially Twitter, have empowered them to experience 80% growth.

The rest of the restaurant and hospitality industry might be able to glean some strategy from this.

Jeffrey

PDX Food Truck Owners

PS – Thanks guys!

USA's "Most Influential SocialMedia" Voice in the Restaurant Industry Speaks at Social Media Club PDX Aug 11

PRIORITY DISTRIBUTION

Social Media Club Portland (OR) hosts Paul Barron, Publisher of Fast Casual Magazine and the USA Restaurant Industry’s “Most Influential” Social Media Voice.

Paul Barron

Paul’s presentation, “Web Era 4 – What It Means to Restaurants” is a must-hear for Portland restaurant professionals/owners and public relations/social media service providers.

Less than 10% of USA restaurants have even begun to embrace the social web – here is the opportunity to get leading theory from the top hospitality social media thinker in North America.

Paul Barron, with over 52,000 Twitter followers, was rated in July 2010 as the top social media influencer in hospitality in the USA by Restaurant Reality Check Blog. Publisher of Fast Casual Magazine and Social Coco Blog, Paul is actively engaged with the boards of both the National Restaurant Association and Share Our Strength.

It’s our distinct pleasure to welcome Paul to speak to the Pacific Northwest hospitality and public relations/marketing/social media communities at Social Media Club PDX.

Event Details:

Registration is open and underway, limited to under 100. Register here at EventBrite.

Paul Barron: “Web Era 4 – What it means to the restaurant industry”

As a leader in the new restaurant, technology and social media era and also as the founder of Fast Casual.com and QSRweb.com

Change Agent has often been my moniker and I welcome it with open arms. As a Publisher and new media maven I have spent the past 16 years developing online media to build brands and amass audience.  I believe that change is the one thing that is always constant.  I feel fortunate as a founder of many blogs, podcasts, viral video and social media platforms.  Each of these experiences has helped me to be on the cutting edge of every new media push since the first web page by Tim Berners Lee in 1992.

As an expert in understanding the evolution of digital media over the past 15 years, I can say I am one of the elite in Social Media in all sectors of business and continue to grow and understand this massive shift in communication.

As a trend watcher I have had a chance to be part of the biggest shift in consumer restaurant interaction in the history of the restaurant business. In the mid 90’s I began tracking and defining the Fast Casual restaurant segment that has grown to more than a 40 billion dollar contributor to the half-a-trillion restaurant business.

As an early adopter, consumer science master, programmer, designer, social creator and best of all a student of the actual technology that drives the web and this entire new media craze, I understand what it takes to create a digital footprint and develop a social brand in today’s online world.

I am happy to talk to your brand; group or company on how new media can change the way you do business.

McMenamin’s Lola’s Room at the Crystal Ballroom

Lola's Room at the Crystal Ballroom McMenamin's

The little sister of the historic Crystal Ballroom, Lola’s Room is located on the second floor, directly below the Crystal. If you’re a fan of DJ’d dance events, raging local rock showcases or intimate seated performances, then take a moment and bookmark this page.

The navigation menu at left is your roadmap to Lola’s Room and the other offerings at the corner of 14th %26 Burnside. Check out what’s coming up on the Events Calendar, discover how to let us host your next party, or simply investigate our brewery, artwork and history.

A night at Lola’s Room should always include a stop by Ringlers Pub or Ringlers Annex, where there’s usually a vibe to fit your mood — great pub fare, inspiring beverages, engaging conversation, a good pool game, a rowdy party, or a groovy DJ in a dimmed and quiet setting.

August 11th from 5 to 9 pm. Cash beverage/pizza by the slice bar.

Giveaway Schwag

• Gift certificates to weekend cooking classes at Oregon Culinary Institute.
• $25 gift certificate to Scratch in Lake Oswego (Chef Warner is competing on Iron Chef in August 2010).
  
• Five 12oz bags of premium roasted coffee from Water Avenue Coffee/American Barista & Coffee School in Southeast PDX. Retail value 12oz bag $12.
• Two tickets to Foodportunity Portland on September 13th at the Heathman Hotel.

More schwag coming!

Registration is open and underway, limited to under 100. Register here at EventBrite. $10 pre-registration, $15 at the door.

Nurturing Village

Cross posted on Kitchen Dances.

Zulu Tribal Dance

Lately I’ve been thinking quite a bit about Paul Barron’s Tribe concept. Paul spoke about this at People Report’s Summer Camp in Dallas this past June. Here’s a small recap of what he said:

“What will your tribe mean to your brand, to your industry and to your future. Learn why now is so important to build your tribe why others will try to do it before you.”

And here’s a quick video from Paul that outlines what “Tribe” meant to us there at #PRSCamp (the hashtag you can find our tribe on in Twitter).

I’ve been talking with Paul about One Tribe since late in 2009. I’d like to share the evolution of what One Tribe means to me – that it is all about nurturing villages.

Maalula Village

We, as humans, live in diverse villages. There’s the village of our family and friends, the village of our peers, the village of our customers/clients and the broader villages of our associations, churches, charitable organizations, towns, cities and regions.

My thoughts have centered on nurturing my villages. Taking time to care for and nurture my connections; giving what I am able of my resources to further the dreams, goals and objectives of villagers in my communities.

Village Interconnectedness

I figure by doing so, I’m strengthening and developing to greater sustainability and stability all of the people and organizations in my communities, in my world. By focusing on this, I’m helping to develop strong and healthy communities and relationships.

Further, by focusing on nurturing my villages, I bring people together, weaving deeper connections and relationships between my villages, creating community.

Flower of Life

This theory is not new in human experience. Theologists and spiritualists have talked about this for generations.

Nicaraguan Village

This.. focusing on my villages as my One Tribe, is responsibility.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this..  Jeff

WANNA TALK FOOD? “FOODPORTUNITY” CULINARY NETWORKING EVENT HITS PORTLAND SEPTEMBER 13 @ THE HEATHMAN RESTAURANT & BAR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Melissa Broussard, 503-638-1055; cell: 503-702-4620

melissa@broussardhill.com

Lisa Hill, 503-327-8328; cell: 503-730-8055

lisa@broussardhill.com

Twitter: BroussardHillPR

WANNA TALK FOOD?

“FOODPORTUNITY” CULINARY NETWORKING EVENT HITS PORTLAND SEPTEMBER 13 @ THE HEATHMAN RESTAURANT & BAR

Meet Portland’s food community in person – from chefs and farmers to food writers and photographers; ”Speed networking” session; Bites from Nostrana, Beaker and Flask, Ten 01, Gilt Club, the Heathman and more…

PORTLAND, Oregon (July 8, 2010) – Seattle’s popular Foodportunity networking event hits the road this fall to venture into Portland’s hot food scene. Portland food professionals and food lovers can meet face to face with local chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, food photographers, food companies, PR professionals and food journalists and bloggers. Want to ask Castagna’s Matt Lightner what it was like to meet José Andrés at the Aspen Food & Wine festival or Philippe Boulot to divulge his favorite “steelhead” fishing hole? Or what about Gabe Rucker’s foie gras lollipops and behind the scenes at Iron Chef America with Naomi Pomeroy?

The culinary networking event takes place at the Heathman Restaurant and Bar on Monday, September 13, 2010 from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $22 (including all handling fees) per person and include appetizers and a wide range of food products from local companies. Tickets are on sale now through Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118974

“I was a speaker at IACP in Portland last April and had so much fun getting to know Portland’s food scene that I knew it was time to connect Seattle and Portland’s food community,” said Foodportunity founder Keren Brown. Keren will travel to Portland in September with a posse of Seattle food writers and bloggers to connect with some of Portland’s culinary community. “It’s hard to find time to meet all the different people in Portland’s food world, so Foodportunity will bring them all together in one location on one night!”

The following Portland chefs and food professionals will be available for informal questions and conversation in the library of the Heathman Restaurant and Bar between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

• Philippe Boulot, 2001 James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific NW; Maître Cuisinier de France; Culinary Director of the Heathman Restaurant and Bar and Executive Chef of the Multnomah Athletic Club
• Liz Crain, food writer for various print and online publications; author of Food Lover’s Guide to Portland; editor at Hawthorne Books.
• Matt Lightner, executive chef of Castagna and 2010 Best New Chef, Food & Wine Magazine; and the Oregonian’s 2010 Restaurant of the Year. Nominated for Rising Star Chef from the James Beard Foundation.
• Naomi Pomeroy, owner and executive chef of Beast; Food Network’s Iron Chef America challenger and Best New Chef 2009 Food & Wine Magazine. Nominated for the 2010 James Beard Award for Best Chef Pacific NW and received Oregonian’s Restaurant of the Year in 2008.
• Gabe Rucker, owner and executive chef of Le Pigeon and Little Bird (coming soon); Best New Chef 2009 Food &  Wine Magazine. Nominated for the 2010 James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef and Oregonian’s Restaurant of the Year in 2008.

The Heathman Restaurant & Bar will host the event and executive chef Philippe Boulot will serve a selection of appetizers alongside several Portland restaurants, including: Beaker & Flask, Clarklewis, Gilt Club, Nostrana, Ten 01 and Scratch.  Beer and wine will be available from a cash bar, and a wide range of food products from local companies will be available to sample. Companies interested in getting involved may contact Keren Brown at Kerenlovestocook@gmail.com.

In addition at 8:30 p.m., the first 30 Foodportunity ticket-holders to send an email to infopdx@foodportunity.com will get a seat at the “speed networking” session, hosted by Byron Beck, a freelancer for national and Oregon-based publications, who also appears on television and radio, has his own blog at byronbeck.com and contributes to pdx.eater.com. What better way to meet so many foodies at one time (for 1 minute each) and hand out business cards in this face to face setting.

About The Heathman Restaurant and Bar

The Heathman Restaurant exemplifies the best of the Pacific Northwest using seasonal ingredients inspired by the flavors and cuisine of France. Recipient of the James Beard Best Chef: Pacific NW award in 2001, Philippe Boulot partners with the region’s select growers, producers and vintners to find the highest quality ingredients. Boulot was honored by the Academie Culinaire de France as the Academie’s Chef of the Year. The Heathman Restaurant and Bar was chosen as one of the “Best Bars” by Portland Monthly. For more information, please call 503-790-7752 or visit www.heathmanrestaurantandbar.com. The Heathman Restaurant is located in the historic Heathman Hotel at 1001 SW Broadway in downtown Portland’s cultural district.

About Foodportunity

Keren Brown, aka Frantic Foodie, conceived of the food networking idea known as Foodportunity and has held more than a dozen food-related events this year in the Seattle market. Recently recognized by MarthaStewart.com as “Doer of the Week”, Keren also organizes monthly events for Seattle food bloggers where she holds Q&A sessions with famous authors, tours of food companies and other events to help bloggers interact. Keren’s food events information can be found at Frantic Foodie in the Seattle PI, www.FranticFoodie.com and on the events page of MyNorthwest.com.  For more information, visit www.foodportunity.com/portland and follow us @foodportunityor and #foodprtpdx.

Social Media Radar Systems

It has been a very crazy week for us here at Chalkboarder. Early in the week our longest running client, Coffee Fest, had a tradeshow “dispute” between them and Specialty Coffee Association of America boil over into social media.

We immediately “lit up” all the social media search tool “radars” and got to work monitoring across the web. We’ve been holding back on publishing content related to the turf war, per the direction and guidance of our client.

It’s been busy AND very real-time.

More later…

jjk

Dessert Professional: World Pastry Team Competition – The Concept

July 5 and 6 I worked for Dessert Professional Magazine providing social media coverage of the World Pastry Team Competition. Eight teams, composed of the world’s top pastry chefs, with three per team, competed for two days straight. The teams were from Denmark, Singapore, United Kingdom, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Mexico and the United States. Overall gold medal went to Japan, Silver to Italy and Bronze to USA.

Team United Kingdom’s Sugar Showpiece broke with three hours left – here’s a video of their completed entry.

Team USA Sugar Showpiece Detail

The Concept of the Competition

Required Elements

Each team will be required to complete all of the following elements:

• 1 Sugar Showpiece
• 1 Chocolate Showpiece
• 1 Chocolate and Sugar Tray
• 3 Different Types of Chocolate Bonbons
• 1 Entremet
• 3 Different Types of Petits Gateaux
• 1 Entremet Glace
• 1 Plated Dessert

The Sugar Showpiece

The showpiece must be constructed wholly of sugar products and with few execeptions: everything must be created and assembled in front of the judges.

Some of the skills that will be witnessed include:

Boiling Sugar – This is the starting point of all sugar work. When sugar is boiled into the proper temperatures, it takes on the characteristics of molten glass, which can be poured into an existing mold or molded by hand. Color is often added.

Casting Sugar – Boiled sugar can be poured into molds of all shapes and sizes. In this competition, only simple geometric molds are allowed. A team that wishes to use a more complicated mold must create that mold during the competition.

Spraying Color – Edible color can be placed into an airbrush or specialized tool and sprayed. Spraying is preferred by chefs to color small sculptures and can create beautiful effects on larger ones.

Pulling Sugar – Boiled sugar is pulled repeatedly to create elasticity and to give the sugar a silky sheen. The finished product can then be molded into any desired shape.

Sugar Blowing – Similar to glass blowing, pulled sugar can be blown with either a hand pump or by mouth.

Pastillage – Used for decorative purposes, pastillage best resembles a white smooth modeling clay. It can be colored, rolled and shaped to create numerous design elements. When dry it becomes hard and brittle.

The Chocolate Showpiece

As with the sugar showpiece, the chocolate showpiece must be constructed wholly of chocolate and cocoa products and with few exceptions, everything must be created and assembled in front of the judges.

Some of the skills you will witness:

Tempering – Melted chocolate will not harden at room temperature unless it is first heated and cooled to specific temperatures in the process called tempering. All chocolate bars, for example, have first been tempered.

Tabliering – A very traditional method of tempering chocolate, tabliering involves spreading a portion of the heated and melted chocolate onto a marble surface and working it until it has cooled. The cooled chocolate is then added back to the remainder of the chocolate, bringing the overall temperature of the mixture.

Seeding – Another traditional method for tempering chocolate, small bits of chocolate are added to the melted chocolate a little at a time. The chocolate bits both cool the melted chocolate and encourage the cocoa butter to crystallize.

Spraying – Using the sirbrush, chocolate can be diluted and sprayed onto dessert surfaces to create an even brushed texture.

Marbleizing – Melted light and dark chocolate are swirled together and poured onto an even surface to create a swirled effect that mimics marble.

Chocolate BonBons

During the competition, each team must create three different types of bonbons. Of these three bonbons, one must be hand-dipped, one must be a molded ganache and one must be a non-chocolate filling.

Terms to know during this phase of competition include:

• Molded bonbons – Chocolate candies can be formed in one of two ways. One classic method involves pouring chocolate into a mold to create the candy outer shell. Once hardened, a filling is piped into each shell, which is then sealed with additional chocolate. Chocolate molds come in all shapes and designs.
• Hand dipped – Candymakers will sometimes first creat the filling, then dip it into tempered chocolate, shaping the finished product by hand with deftness and dexterity.
• Ganache – Ganache is a combination of chocolate, heavy cream and flavorins (i.e. liquor) used as fillings or frostings in a wide variety of desserts.

Entremets

As a requirement, each team must prepare three identical cakes with all of the components created from scratch in front of the judges. All the cakes must include chocolate as one of the ingredients but beyond that the chefs are free to let their imagination and taste buds take flight.

Of the finished cakes, one will be integrated into the sugar showpiece and the others will be reserved for judging.

There are dozens of varieties of cakes. Below are just a few:

• Genoise – A classic French cake all chefs hold in their repertoire, a genoise is traditionally made up of just whole eggs, sugar and flour. A sugar syrup is often used to flavor and moisten the cake before the layers are assembled.
• Biscuit – While they share the same name, a biscuit cake is completely different from the all-American buttermilk dinner accompianment. Moister than a genoise, the egg whites in a biscuit are beaten separately, then folded into the cake batter to create a light and airy tecture.
• Dacquoise – Made of beaten egg whites, sugar and ground nuts, a Dacquoise is light and crunchy like a meringue.
• Pound Cake – Traditionally made by adding a pound of this and a pound of that, pound cakes are richer than the above cakes due to the addition of butter and the fact that the eggs are not first beaten until foamy.

Petits Gateaux

The English translation for a petit gateau is “little cake”. Each team must prepare 3 different types of petits gateau. Of the three petits gateaux, one is a fruit pteit gateaux, one is a chocolate petit gateaux, and one of the petit gateaux will be of the team’s choice. Each team will decide the shape of the petits gateaux. The sixe of each petit gateaux should be between 80-100 grams. Each team must prepare a total of 39 petits gateaux to be displayed on the buffet, for degustation, and for photography.

Each petit gateaux will be judged on the following criteria:

• Adherence to size restrictions
• Outside appearance and decoration
• Interior appearance
• Flavor of the individual components
• Balance of flavor overall
• Texture
• Balance of taste (example: sweet, acidic, bitter, salty)
• Originality and innovation

Frozen Dessert

As part of the competition, each team must create a frozen dessert containing the following components:

Ice Cream – cold, rich and creamy, ice cream is a perennial favorite among kids and adults alike. There is American-style (sometimes called Philadelphia style) ice cream that is made with heavy cream and French-style ice cream that is custard based. All ice creams must be processed in an ice cream machine that manually or electrically freezes the base while mixing the contents to produce a smooth and even texture.

Sorbet – Lighter than ice cream, sorbets are usually made of fruit purees and juices or wines and liquers. They contain no cream or eggs. As with ice cream, sorbets must be processed in an ice cream machine. A non-machine spun frozen component – Parfaits, semifreddo, frozen souffles and frozen mousses are all names of ice cream-like confections that do not require procession in a machine. These are all subtle differences amongst these treats but all contain some combination of eggs, sugar and cream.

Cake component – There are dozens of cake variations from which to chose. See “Entremets” for a more detailed description of some examples.

Plated Dessert

After working within some very tough guidelines, this is where the chefs get to “let loose”. The freestyle format of the Plated Dessert section of the competition allows each team to create from their favorite ingredients and recipes. There are no restrictions on the number of components or their shapes so each dessert is sure to be as different as the chefs themselves.

Please see this page for the Competition Judges.

Please see this page for the Competitors.

Dessert Professional: World Pastry Team Competition Judges

I’m here at JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, working as socialmedia crew for Dessert Professional Magazine, covering the Carymax World Pastry Forum, Amoretti World Pastry Team Competition. The world’s best pastry chefs are here, judging. Let me share their bios with you…

President of the Jury

Robert Ellinger, C.M.B., C.E.P.C.

Robert Ellinger is Owner and Pastry Chef of Baked To Perfection, established in 1986, a retail/wholesale bakery operation in Port Washington, New York. Robert held positions as Head Pastry Chef for the Metropolitan Opera, The United Nations, The Water Club and The Garden City Hotel in New York. Born in Jericho, New York, Robert graduated from Sullivan County Community College’s Hotel/Restaurant Management Program with an Associate of Science Honors degree. Robert was then selected to attend Highbury Technical College in Portsmouth, England where he received the prestigious Chefs III Diploma. Robert rounded out his education when he returned and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from The Florida International University in Miami, Florida. In 1997 he successfully completed his Certified Master Bakers Exam and Certified Executive Pastry Chef Exam.

Denmark

Carsten Kej

Carsten teaches at the National Pastry School in Denmark, where he has been an instructor for the last six years. He has worked in Kuwait, Norway, Mexico and USA, in pastry shops, restaurants and hotels. Over the past several years, he has been an active competitor.

Bjorn Krau

Bjorn is a Pastry Chef at “La Glace”, the oldest pastry chef in Denmark. He was an executive chef. He holds a degree in international management. Bjorn is a former competitor.

Italy

Biagio Settepani

Biaggio Settepani came to the United States from Italy as a child, and began working in the local pastry shop at the age of 13, thus beginning his lifelong passion for pastry and baking. He opened his first pastry shop at the age of 21, and then took over Bruno’s Bakery in New York City. Biaggio continues to grow his business, expanding Bruno’s Bakery and opening Pasticceria in July 2000.

He attended classes in pastry arts through Cacao Barry US, The School of International Confectionary Arts, The French French_Pastry School, Patisfrance/Paris Gourmet, L’Ecole Lentore, and Decor Italia. As an instructor for the New School Culinary Arts, he hopes to give his knowledge and experience to the future pastry chefs.

Biaggio has competed internationally, and among his accomplishments are the 2001 Medal of the French Government at the Salon Philanthropique NYC, Best Sugar Showpiece at the 2001 and 2003 National Pastry Team Competition, the Silver Medal at the Patisfrance Pastry Competition in 1999, the Bronze Medal “Grand Prixe du Chocolate” France in 1999 and the Gold Medal at the Salon Culinaire Philanthropique in 1998.

Iginio Massari

He is the most popular Italian confectioner in the world. He is the owner of the Veneto pastry store in Brescia, belonging to the Relais Desserts International.

Trainer and president of the Italian team who won the Pastry World Cup in Lyon in 1997 and trainer of the Pastry World Champions UIPGC 2004, founder of the Accademia Maestri Pasticceri Italiani (Italy’s exclusive master patissier association) and of Cast Alimenti school, he also owns the restaurant Carlo Magno in Collebeato (Brescia).

He has been proclaimed confectioner of the year 1999-2000 and of the decade in 2003 and has won many awards through the years. Consultant in the alimentary field, he is also the author of some technical books.

Japan

Kanjiro Mochizuki

Kanjiro is the Executive Pastry Chef at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. In addition to working extensively in Japan, he received additional training at the Culinary Institute of America.

He participated at the Coupe de Monde de la Patisserie in Lyon in 1989 and was a team leader of the Japanese team for the 2002 WPTC.

Shinsuke Nakajima

Shinsuke Nakajima, 50, is the Executive Pastry Chef at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. Nakajima’s delicious creations earned him star status long before he led the Japanese team to the top at the International Patisserie Grand Priz 2009 in Tokyo this past year. His signature Super Dessert Series includes masterpieces such as the Super Melon Short Cake, and sweets that combine Japanese ingredients such as sweet bean paste with Western staples such as puddings and roll cakes. A veteran on the pastry circuit, he and his team won the second prize at the 2002 World Pastry Team Championships in the United States.

Mexico

Stephane Treand, M.O.F.

Stephane Tread is Executive Pastry Chef at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach. He has worked internationally as an instructor and consultant. In 2004, Stephane became an M.O.F. (Meilleur Ouvrier de France), the top honor in the pastry industry in France. Specializing in sugar and chocolate showpieces.

Chef Treand has been in the pastry industry for over 25 years, winning awards shortly after his career began. In 2002 Stephane was a member of Team France at the World Pastry Championship in Las Vegas and took second prize in the international competition. In July 2005, he won the Food Network’s “Sugar Showpiece Challenge”, in Phoenix Arizona. Stephane’s latest title to add to his many accomplishments is 2008 World Pastry Team Champion alongside teammates Dimitri Fayard and Laurent Branlard.

Ramon Ramos

Ramon Ramos might be the most well traveled Ritz Carlton pastry chef in the world. In his almost twenty years with the Ritz Carlton organization, he has worked as a pastry chef or executive pastry chef at their locations in Laguna Nigel, Maui, St. Louis, Dearborn, Palm Desert, Shanghai and Los Angeles.

His goal is to continue to create signature desserts and become a better manager and successful businessman.

Ramon was featured in Pastry Art & Design magazine and participated in the 2007 Coupe de Monde.

Singapore

Gael Etrillard

Gael is currently the Executive Pastry Chef at legendary Raffles Hotel Singapore.

Gael has begun his career in the Champagne area in France. After his two years of apprenticeship, he went on doing a chocolate specialization and worked for several Michelin Star restaurants such as “Les Crayeres” and “Auberge des Templiers”.

He moved to the UK in 1995 and after four years to Asia where he worked in several countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore and opened hotels in Vietnam, China and the Phillipines. He also trained with M.O.F. Stephane Glacier, Jean Michel Perruchon and Pascal Caffet as well as three Michelin star chef Pierre Gagnaire. In 2007 he was given the opportunity to work as an instructor /demonstrator for Cacao Barry Asia Pacific where he was in charge of 11 countries. He is now overlooking the operation at the Raffles Hotel Singapore which includes a chocolaterie and 12 outlets.

South Korea

Woong Seo Jung

No bio available at press time.

In Cui Ryu

No bio available at press time.

United Kingdom

Nicholas Lodge

Nicholas Lodge is one of the top instructors in the current generation of sugarcraft artists at The International School of Sugar and Confectionary Arts since 1991, his work has been requested from the Royal Family and the White House alike. Nicholas was nominated, voted and approved for “Who’s Who in America” in 1994 and was voted into the International Cake Exploration Societe (ICES) Hall of Fame in 2001, being the youngest person to receive this honor. He is internationally known, not only for his unique skills in sugar art, but also for the quality of his demonstrations and classes, at which he inspires enthusiasm in everyone who attends. This reputation has also involved him in judging sugar art events around the globe.

Gary Hunter

Gary Hunter is the Head of Culinary Arts at Westminster Kingsway College, London. It is the country’s leading and most prestigious chefs school that has produced many talented chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Anthony Worral Thomson.

Traveling abroad frequently to work with leading chefs in countries such as USA, France, Holland and Belgium, Gary also works extensively throughout the UK giving culinary demonstrations and instruction. He has a strong practical background with international and Michelin restaurant experience and has represented the UK as an international judge in the World Chocolate Masters, indeed, he is currently recognized as one of the leading chefs in the art of chocolate.

In 1997 Gary represented the UK Government in Pakistan promoting UK food and has recently worked as a consultant in Italy. His role as UK Ambassador for Barry Callebaut UK enables him to present seminars and product knowledge for the industry. The Association Culinaire Francaise honored Gary with the Palmes Culinaires Diploma in 2003 and he has been awarded many gold medals for culinary competitions in the UK.

The author of three professional culinary books, published by Thomson, intended to help student and the catering industry chefs, Gary is currently writing a fourth book for publication in the new year. In 2008 he led a Junior chefs team from Westminster Kingsway College to Erfut GER to represent Great Britain at the World Culinary Olympics.

USA

Ewald Notter

Ewald Notter, co-owner of the Notter School of Pastry Arts in Orlando, Florida, is considered a leading expert in the field. Known as an outstanding teacher, competitor, judge and consultant, he was the first inductee into the Pastry Art & Design Magazine’s Hall of Fame. In 1999 his team won the gold medal at the first Beaver Creek Team Competition and repeated this victory in 2000. In 2001 he competed as part of the United States National Team at the Coupe de Monde de la Patisserie in Lyon, France, and the US won its first gold medal. In 2003, Ewald was honored by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences with the 5 Star Diamond Award as “One of the Finest Confectionary Chefs of the World”.

Anil Rohira

After his graduation from the CIA in 1995, Chef Rohira went on to work at the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in New Hampshire, The Wigwam in Arizona and The Cloisters in Georgia. Chef Rohira was the shoo-in for a spot as Ewald Notter’s teaching assistant at the International School of Confectionary Arts. At the school, Chef Rohira joined forces with Chef Notter, to prepare and co-instruct the 24 Week European Pastry and Baking Program; a specialized program that explores leading pastry and baking methodologies, avant-garde design and detailed excellence.

Chef Rohira accepted the position as Corporate Pastry Chef for Albert Ulster Imports in 2001, a position he has held for 8 years. As of September 2009 Anil Rohira accepted the position as Corporate Pastry Chef for Felchlin Switzerland. Based in Mumbaie, he will be in charge of Demonstrations and Seminars in the Middle and Far East and will contribute to successfully promote Felchlin products in that area.

2010 Honored Distinguished Chef Johnson & Wales University; 2009 Pastry Chef of the Year National Pastry Team Championship in Phoenix, AZ; 2006-2007 Named one of the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America by Pastry Art & Design Magazine; 2003 Team USA Captain and winner of “Best Sugar Showpiece” at the Coupe de Monde, Lyon, France.

France

Stephane Glacier, M.O.F.

Stephane began his career in 1988 working at la patissiere Alain Jeanne. He worked in New York from 1993-1995. He taught at “L’Ecole Bellout Conseil” and at “L’Ecole Lenotre”. He has won numerous competitions including the European Championship of Sugar Art and several competitions in 1997. In 2000, he became “Meilleur Ouvrier de France Patissier”. In 2001, he launched his own business “Glacier Formation et Conseil” doing demonstrations and teaching all over the world.

David Wesmael, M.O.F.

Glacier and World Pastry Champion, he is the Research & Development Corporate Chef for the famous Groupe Holder in France, including the Paul Patisserie Group and the not less famous Laduree pastry shops in Paris, and world-wide. Chef David Wesmael holds the Meilleur Ouvrier de France Glacier title and was a member of the French Pastry Team who captured the Gold Medal in the World Pastry Championship in Phoenix, AZ in 2006.

Jeffrey J Kingman, CEO Chalkboarder

Dessert Professional: Day Two of the World Pastry Team Competition

I’m in Phoenix Arizona at the Carymax World Pastry Forum, part of a social media team working for Dessert Professional Magazine, covering the Amoretti World Pastry Chef Team Competition.

Eight national teams (of three pastry chefs each) are going head to head here in day two of furious action. Nations represented are:

Denmark

Katherine Velin Hansen, Team Captain (Executive Pastry Chef, Andersen Bakery, Copenhagen DEN)

Nichlas Jamie Frese (Pastry Chef, HC Andersen Konditori & Cafe, Copenhagen DEN)

Mads Kilstrup Kristiansen (Pastry Chef, Swiss Pastry Shop, Aarhus DEN)

Italy

Diego Crosara, Team Captain (Instructor Al Portego, Valdagno ITA)

Davide Maliziat (Championship competitor, ITA)

Fabrizio Galla (Coupe de Monde ITA)

Singapore

Tai Chien Lin, Team Captain (Chocolatier, Raffles Hotel, Singapore)

Jaycent Lau Tse Kwang (Pastry Artist, Raffles Hotel, Singapore)

Alex Chonh Chi Hung (Chef de Partie, Stamford Singapore, Singapore)

United Kingdom

Javier Mercado, Team Captain (Pastry Chef Instructor, Westminster Kingsway College, London UK)

John Costello (Chocolate Innovation Chef, Park Cake Bakeries Ltd., Manchester UK)

Chris Loder (Pastry Chef Lecturer, Westminster Kingsway College, London UK)

Japan

Takao Yamamoto, Team Captain (Owner, Club Harie, JAP)

Yoshiaki Miyake (Pastry Chef, Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, Tokyo JAP)

Hiroshi Igarashi (Executive Chef, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Tokyo, Tokyo JAP)

South Korea

Kim, Deok-Kyu, Team Captain (Owner Chef, Patisserie Kim Deok Kyu, Gyeongam, KOR)

Oh, Byung-Ho (President, Korea Hotel Vocational Training Institute, KOR)

Ryoo, Jae-Eun (Owner, Provence Bakery & Cafe KOR)

Mexico

Oscar Ortega, Team Captain (Pastry Consultant & Owner Atelier Ortega MEX)

Alejandro Lechuga (Patissiere/Consultant, MEX)

Mirko Bucci (Pastry Chef Instructor, GLION UVM San Luis Potosi MEX)

USA

Kaushik Chowdhury, Team Captain (Executive Pastry Chef, JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort, Phoenix Arizona USA)

Melynda Gilmore (Pastry Supervisor, JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort, Phoenix Arizona USA)

Keith Taylor (Asst Pastry Chef, JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort Phoenix Arizona USA)

There’s a wild amount of activity here.. The Learning Channel has four film crews, there’s about four local news crews and national publications are abundant.

You can follow Dessert Professional’s coverage of the event in Twitter at hashtag #wpfwptc or on Facebook at the Dessert Professional Fanpage

Team Mexico

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