Seeking Applicants For 2014 Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program

Atlanta, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) are seeking applicants for the Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program, which seeks to promote the Department’s Georgia Grown campaign statewide. Now entering its third year, the program offers participating chefs a mark of honor and distinction, while increasing awareness for both restaurateurs and consumers about which local Georgia products are available for the cooking season.

Current Georgia Grown Executive Chefs include:

– Chef Holly Chute, Executive Chef, Georgia Governor’s Mansion
– Chef Michael Deihl, CEC CCA AAC, Executive Chef, East Lake Golf Club
– Chef Kevin Gillespie, Owner, Gunshow
– Chef Hilary White, Executive Chef, The Hil, A Restaurant at Serenbe
-Chef Jennifer Hill Booker of Your Resident Gourmet, LLC in Atlanta
-Chef Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Resurgens Hospitality in Atlanta
-Chef Ahmad Nourzad of Affairs to Remember Catering in Atlanta
-Chef David Snyder of Halyards, Tramici Restaurant, and Halyards Catering in St. Simons

These Chefs, along with representatives from the GRA and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, will help to select the 2014 Georgia Grown Executive Chefs. The application process is now open and will run through January 10, 2014. Chefs may apply online at www.garestaurants.org/GeorgiaGrown.

As the program continues, it will create a pathway for consumers to find Georgia Grown in their communities in order to support local, seasonal foods when dining out. It also aims to highlight and involve public school culinary education and school food nutrition in terms of increased opportunities for Georgia Grown products, training and recipe development.

On Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 the four selected chefs will be announced at the Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception, held at The Freight Depot from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

About the Georgia Restaurant Association
The GRA’s mission is to serve as the voice for Georgia’s Restaurants in Advocacy, Education and Awareness. The GRA is sanctioned by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) to operate Georgia’s only not-for-profit representing the state’s foodservice industry. From large chains to start-ups, the GRA helps make Georgia a better place for restaurants to do business and helps make restaurants better for Georgia.

About Georgia Grown:
The Department of Agriculture’s Georgia Grown program provides a powerful branding tool as well as education, marketing and business connections to expand agribusinesses and the agricultural industry throughout the state. Learn more or join Georgia Grown at www.GeorgiaGrown.com.

Source: Georgia Restaurant Association