Press Releases

The Art Institute of Atlanta Celebrates Culinary Week with Celebrity Chef and Graduate Jamika Pessoa

Culinary Week

WHO/WHAT: 

The Art Institute of Atlanta is celebrating the city’s culinary community with Culinary Week, a week of demos, panel discussions and workshops that highlight the synergy between students, faculty, alumni and local culinary professionals. Taking part in Culinary Week will be celebrity chef and graduate of The Art Institute of Atlanta, Jamika Pessoa. She will participate in a number of events and panel discussions throughout the week.  

WHERE:

The Art Institute of Atlanta

6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30328

WHEN:

August 25-28, 2015

Please see below for a complete schedule of events.

All events are open to the public at no charge.

To request accommodations in connection with these events, contact the Student Affairs Department or program organizer in advance at 770-394-8300.

Tuesday, Aug. 25 

10AM to 11:30AM: Bag-able Brunch - Chef Monique Porsche-Smith, The Art Institute of Atlanta Faculty, will show you how to create adelicious meal for those on-the-go!

12PM to 1PM: Live Food Demo - The Art Institute of Atlanta welcomes visiting Taiwanese Chefs Shun-Wei Tsao and Wei-Che Hong as part of their one month tour of America. These chefs will present a demo around Asian Cuisine.

2PM to 3:30PM: Starting Your Own Business - An industry professional panel led by The Art Institute of Atlanta culinary alumni and a current student

• Chef Holly Smith, Owner of Phenomenal Foods by Chef Holly (2009 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

• Chef Thalmus Hare, Owner and CEO of Lib Food (2012 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

• Chef Tony Morrow, Owner of The Pecan and Tony Morrow’s Real Pit BBQ (2003 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

• Charles English, BBQ Food Truck Entrepreneur (Current student in the Bachelor of Science in Food & Beverage Management degree program)

Wednesday, Aug. 26

10AM to 11:30AM: Live Food Demo - Chef Greg Mueller CEC, CCA, WACS, and member of the first American team to compete in the Bocuse D’or Catering Competition in France, will present a demo of the prize winning pate that he made for the event.

2PM to 3:30PM: Surviving in a Super Competitive Business (Gallery) - A panel discussion led by Industry Professionals and The Art Institute of Atlanta culinary alumni

• Celebrity Chef Jamika Pessoa, Featured Chef on NBC’s “Food Fighters”, Brand Ambassador for Hillshire Brands, Field Correspondent for ABC’s “The Chew”,

• Competitor on Food Network’s “The Next Food Network Star”- Season 5 (GRAD INFO)

• Chef Ciaran Duffy, Restaurateur/ Entrepreneur (1999 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

• Executive Chef Cachao Lett, Morrison’s Management Specialists (Compass Group) (2007 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

• Chef Greg Mueller, Senior Manager for Retail Business- Sodexo (2003 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

Thursday, Aug. 27

10AM to 11:30AM: Designer Popcorn- Sweet, savory and both, and the soft drinks that complete the picture for a good show, as presented by Chef Morris. Accompanying your snack will be crafted soda drinks created and curated by Chef Lindsay Brewster.

2PM to 3:30PM: Brand, not Bland- A panel discussion led by Industry Professionals and The Art Institute of Atlanta culinary alumni

• Celebrity Chef Jamika Pessoa, Featured Chef on NBC’s “Food Fighters”, Brand Ambassador for Hillshire Brands, Field Correspondent for ABC’s “The Chew”, Competitor on Food Network’s “The Next Food Network Star”- Season 5

• Executive Chef Thomas McKeown, Grand Hyatt Atlanta- Buckhead

• Executive Chef Nick Walker, Cobb Galleria (2007 Graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts Management)

• Ron Wolf, Entrepreneur & Founder of The Georgia Restaurant Association

• Roger Dixon, Edge Specialist at Sur la Table (2008 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Baking & Pastry)

Friday, Aug. 28 

9AM to 12PM: Culinary Rookie Competition - First time student competitors unravel the secrets of a mystery basket with celebrity judges for a chance to win food and equipment prize baskets.

• Celebrity Chef Jamika Pessoa, Featured Chef on NBC’s “Food Fighters”, Brand Ambassador for Hillshire Brands, Field Correspondent for ABC’s “The Chew”, Competitor on Food Network’s “The Next Food Network Star”- Season 5

• Chef Justin Balmes, Competitor of Food Network’s “The Food Network Star- Season 7” , Competitor of Food Network’s “Chopped” (2003 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

• Chef Ciaran Duffy, Restaurateur/ Entrepreneur

• Chef Desmond Fannin, Director of Culinary Services for Sodexo North America, Published Author of “The Way I ‘Sea’ It: A Collection of 30 Easy Recipes for the Seafood Lover”, featured chef on the Charlotte-based TV Show “The Chef’s Wife”, featured chef on various webisodes for Ingles Supermarkets (2001 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

2PM to 3:30PM: Making Media Your Friend (Gallery) - panel discussion led by Ai Atlanta culinary alumni

• Celebrity Chef Jamika Pessoa, Featured Chef on NBC’s “Food Fighters”, Brand Ambassador for Hillshire Brands, Field Correspondent for ABC’s “The Chew”, Competitor on Food Network’s “The Next Food Network Star”- Season 5

• Chef Desmond Fannin, Director of Culinary Services for Sodexo North America, Published Author of “The Way I ‘Sea’ It: A Collection of 30 Easy Recipes for the Seafood Lover,” featured chef on the Charlotte-based TV Show “The Chef’s Wife,” featured chef on various webisodes for Ingles Supermakets (2001 Graduate with an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts)

The Art Institute of Atlanta is one of The Art Institutes, a system of private, non-profit schools throughout the United States. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. The Art Institute of Atlanta, 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, N.E., 100 Embassy Row, Atlanta, GA 30328-1649 © 2019. The Arts Institutes International LLC. All rights reserved.