Blue Bamboo Executive Chef Dennis Chan Visits The Art Institute of Jacksonville Local Chef Speaks With Culinary Students

[Jacksonville, Fl., September 3, 2009] - Students at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Jacksonville received a taste of Blue Bamboo on Wednesday September 2, 2009 when executive chef Dennis Chan visited the school.

Chan spoke to the students about his past experiences at The Culinary Institute of America, his new book Hip Asian Comfort Food and the trials and tribulations of building his own restaurant from the ground up. He also provided lunch from Blue Bamboo for the students to enjoy throughout his presentation.

"What an exciting experience to have Chef Dennis here sharing with our students. Dennis and I worked together at Disney hosting an event for Martha Stewart, and now he is here in Jacksonville sharing his new book- what a small world," said Mark Mattern, Academic Director of Culinary Arts.

Chan is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and and worked closely with Ming Tsai of PBS' Simply Ming. His Southside restaurant, Blue Bamboo, provides customers with a taste of Asian cuisine in an atmosphere that is distinctively American. Chan is also the grandson of Bill Eng, who with his family has owned and operated restaurants in the Jacksonville area for more than six decades.

For more information on The Art Institute of Jacksonville, please visit www.artinstitutes.edu/jacksonville or contact Kathleen Holland at kholland@aii.edu.