Changing the Way We Think About Food

Devoted to celebrating, nurturing and preserving America’s diverse culinary heritage, the James Beard Foundation is very dear to me. The JBF fosters thought leadership, provides scholarships for culinary students, and sets the bar for culinary excellence with the annual James Beard Awards. And this video sums it all up. Well done!

Craftsmen: A Minneapolis Dinner

I’ll be hosting a Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner on October 29 at the Minneapolis City Center, with food from Steven Brown (Tilia), Vincent Francoual (Vincent A Restaurant), Jamie Malone (Brut), Tim McKee (La Belle Vie) and JP Samuelson (6Smith). Trust me, you don’t want to miss this dinner (check out the menu). Plus, proceeds from this dinner will benefit the Second Chances Scholarship. Reservation info here.

About the Second Chances Scholarship

The scholarship will offer a student faced with extreme challenges—whether health, addiction, family, unemployment, etc.—a second chance to overcome these hardships and follow a culinary path. Since I was once given a second chance after struggling with addiction, it’s important to me that others are given the same opportunity to turn their lives around. I can’t think of a better organization to donate to.