ATLANTA,
July 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/
-- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) is partnering with FOOD &
WINE to create an original culinary competition video series, called
"The Cabin Pressure Cook Off," to find its newest chef. The
winning chef will consult with Delta on menus for flights departing
Atlanta.
Four
former FOOD & WINE Best New Chefs winners will compete in the
custom video series:
- Hugh Acheson of Empire State South in Atlanta and Five & Ten and The National in Athens, Ga.
- Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House in Atlanta
- Kelly English of Restaurant Iris and The Second Line in Memphis and Kelly English Steakhouse in St. Louis
- George Mendes of ALDEA in New York.
"We
have been very focused on culinary design and the manner in which we
provide more than 110,000 sophisticated, tasty meals each day on our
flights around the world. This opportunity allows us to try something
truly unique," Joanne Smith, Delta's senior vice president –
In-Flight Service said. "No one knows great chefs like
FOOD & WINE and we look forward to welcoming another chef of this
caliber to our renowned culinary team."
Coinciding
with the 25th anniversary of FOOD & WINE's Best New Chefs
awards platform, the four-episode series will launch in October,
airing on Delta's in-flight entertainment, delta.com and
foodandwine.com. The new chef will join Delta's culinary team which
includes Michelle Bernstein, Michael Chiarello, and master sommelier
Andrea Robinson.
"Delta's
passion and commitment to work with top epicurean talent and deliver
the best customer service makes this an exciting partnership for us,"
said FOOD & WINE Senior Vice President and Publisher Christina
Grdovic. "We're thrilled to collaborate with them on extending
the Best New Chefs platform and to bring our brand of culinary
expertise to the Delta audience."
The
Cabin Pressure Cook Off will feature culinary challenges and will be
filmed at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. Television
personality Jackie Tranchida will serve as the host, and judges
include Delta Consulting Chef Michelle Bernstein, Master Sommelier
for Delta Andrea Robinson, Union Square Hospitality Executives, David
Swinghamer and Mark Maynard and FOOD & WINE Publisher Christina
Grdovic.
About
the FOOD & WINE Best New Chef Competitors
Linton
Hopkins – 2013 Best New Chef All-Star and 2009 Best New Chef,
Atlanta
Linton Hopkins
is executive chef and owner of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman &
Finch Public House in Atlanta, which he runs with his wife
Gina Hopkins. The recipient of the 2012 James Beard Award
for "Best Chef: Southeast" and 2013 Food
& Wine "Best New Chef All-Star" designation, Hopkins
is committed to celebrating the rich bounty of Georgia
farms through his meticulous house-made preparations
of naturally raised meats and local
produce. After attending the Culinary Institute of America
and sharpening his skills in renowned restaurants, the
Atlanta native returned to his hometown where he opened
Restaurant Eugene in 2004. The Hopkins' expanded their
operations in 2008 with Holeman & Finch Public House and H&F
Bread Co., and have since opened H&F Bottle shop as
a full-service wine and spirits purveyor. In 2013, Hopkins
teamed with the Atlanta Braves to bring his popular handcrafted
burger from Holeman & Finch Public House to the fans at
Turner Field. In addition, Hopkins and his business partner,
Greg Best, host Feed Radio on AM1690 "The Arts."
Hugh
Acheson – 2002 Best New Chef, Athens, Ga.
Born
and raised in Ottawa, Hugh started cooking at a young age and decided
to make it his career. At age 15, he began working in restaurants
after school and learning as much as possible. Hugh Acheson is the
chef/partner of Five & Ten, The National, and Empire State South.
Hugh was on the ninth and tenth seasons ofTop Chef as a
series judge and was a competitor on Top Chef Masters season
3.
In
addition to running three restaurants, Hugh wrote the cookbook A
New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for your
Kitchen. This book was published by Clarkson Potter in the
fall of 2011 and won the James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook
in 2012. Hugh is now working on his second cookbook, which is
scheduled to come out in 2014.
Kelly
English – 2009 Best New Chef, Memphis
Chef
Kelly English is inspired by the familiar flavors from his childhood
in southern Louisiana and incorporates that inspiration into
each dish he cooks. A graduate of The University of Mississippi
and Culinary Institute of America, Chef English currently
implements this inspiration for food and service in his premier
restaurant, Restaurant Iris, and at The Second Line, both in
Memphis. He continues this commitment to service at Kelly
English Steakhouse at Hollywood St. Louis Casino & Hotel in
St. Louis. English was named "Restaurateur of the Year"
by the Memphis Restaurant Association, and appeared on Food
Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."
George
Mendes – 2011 Best New Chef, New York
At
ALDEA, chef and owner George Mendes serves Mediterranean cuisine with
influences from Portugal, the country of his heritage, as well as
Spain and France. Opened in 2009, ALDEA has been awarded a two-star
rating from The New York Times and
a Michelin star every year since 2010, and Mendes
has appeared on Bravo's Top Chef Masters. Previously, Mendes
spent three years at Tocqueville, where he worked as the chef de
cuisine. Mendes spent over a decade honing his culinary
knowledge, technique and style under the guidance of some of the
world's greatest culinary masters, including David Bouley, Alain
Passard, Roger Verge, Alain Ducasse and Basque chef Martin
Berasategui.
About
FOOD & WINE Best New Chefs
As
America's talent-seeking epicurean magazine, FOOD & WINE is
celebrating its 25th year of awarding the Best New Chefs title to
up-and-coming, innovative chefs with a distinctive vision for
creating exceptionally delicious food. Only chefs who have run
their own kitchen for five years or fewer are eligible. Among the
superstars honored: Thomas Keller ('88), Tom Colicchio ('91), Michael
Symon ('89), Dan Barber ('02) and Stephanie Izard ('11). For more
information on past winners, visit foodandwine.com/best_new_chefs.
About
FOOD & WINE
FOOD
& WINE is the ultimate authority on the best of what's new in
food, drink, travel, style & entertaining. Founded by American
Express Publishing, the luxury-lifestyle experts, FOOD & WINE has
an extensive social media following on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Pinterest, Tumblr and Foursquare. FOOD & WINE includes a monthly
magazine; digital editions on the iPad, Kindle Fire and Nook Color; a
books division; a website, foodandwine.com; plus
newsletters, clubs, events around the globe and a restaurant
partnership, Chefs Club by FOOD & WINE.