Eight (8) $1,000 Chef2Chef Culinary Student Grants were awarded on January 31, 2005.
A team of Chef2Chef.net Ambassadors and chefs from literally around the world (USA, Canada, Venezula, New Zealand, Australia, England, Burmuda and more) reviewed an applicant overview and then the essays. The final recipients were selected by a blind vote and we are proud to present them here.
Chef2Chef Ambassador June Jacobs, CCP presents Gina with the grant check with Chef Instructor Frank Costantino on the right.
The Arts Institute, New York City
Grant funded by Chef2Chef, LLC
I am writing to express my gratitude for this grant. I know there were hundreds of qualified applicants and I am honored to have received this. I look forward to working with your organization for years to come and hope I will be able to be a benefactor for some one else one day. Thank you again. If there is anything you need, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Gina Puzzanghera
by Gina Puzzanghera
For anyone who has been to culinary arts school or has taken a management class, they have probably had an overly excited, odd teacher. I, myself, am no exception. I had the privilege of having a character all his own. Between his squawking, paper waving , and desk circling I actually heard something interesting exit his mouth. He was trying to get us to understand the importance of the menu. "The menu is the heart of the restaurant," he said. To my surprise, I totally agreed. He had awakened me to the thought that the menu, a simple list of dishes, held a large part of you in it. When you look at any menu hard enough you can begin to see the chef as a person. Realizing his or her whole life has come down to this meal. The menu is a mirror reflection of your culinary experience, skills, culture etc... This menu is not just a menu. You hold in your hands the career of the chef as well as every one else in the establishment. Everything from the soup to the entree has a story behind it. The menu is important, not only because it determines the success of a restaurant, but it reveals a little bit of ourselves. The menu truly establishes we are what we eat as well as what we cook.
East Central College, MO
Grant funded by Chimney Park Bistro, Windsor, Colorado
Chef2Chef has been instrumental in my culinary success, in more ways than I can begin to count. This group of culinarians has been acting as my mentor. When I received a C2C Culinary Grant, I felt like I'd gained, literally, the worldwide approval of those mentors. The grant went a long way towards helping me with the financial costs of attending culinary school and gave me a huge boost of confidence. If it "takes a village" to fulfill your aspirations, than C2C has certainly been that village to me. Thank you!
Derek Thomas
Johnson & Wales University, Denver, CO
Grant funded by Chimney Park Bistro, Windsor, Colorado
Thank you very much for the scholarship, it will be very helpful with paying my tuition. I am honored to receive this award and wish I could be in Denver to accept it. I am currently in Sweden studying aboard working on my academic classes. I have sent a photo of me in a Swedish Cafe. Thank you very much again.
Regards,
Scott Bruggman
Christine Schmitz (left) receiving the grant check from Chef2Chef Ambassador Jean Denham (right).
Colorado Mountain College
CIA Greystone California
Grant funded by Chimney Park Bistro, Windsor, Colorado
I just wanted to thank you again for such a wonderful gift! Jean came last Thursday and it was like a Christmas Day in April! I am so appreciative and it is also such a supportive boost for my goals and dreams!! We took some pictures and I will be in touch with Jean to make sure you recieve one for the web site which you requested!
The pastry program here has been pretty demanding .The chefs are fabulous so I am working and studying around the clock. It has really been worth it! I love it!
Thank You again for everything!
Christine Schmitz
Chef2Chef's David Nelson (left) awarding the grant check to Jonathan Kittel (right).
Scottsdale Culinary Institute
Grant funded by Chef2Chef, LLC
Florida Culinary Institute
Grant funded by Chimney Park Bistro, Windsor, Colorado
The Restaurant School at Walnut College, PA
Grant funded by Chimney Park Bistro, Windsor, Colorado
Johnson & Wales, Miami, FL
Grant funded by Chimney Park Bistro, Windsor, Colorado