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News Release

October 03, 2006

Renowned Chef Is Executive-in-Residence

A taste of Louisiana is on its way to the University of Guelph this month with the arrival of John Folse, an internationally acclaimed chef who has been named executive-in-residence in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) for the fall semester. He will be on campus Oct. 10 to 12.

Folse has experienced international success over the past four decades by peppering the world with his culinary expertise and showcasing the indigenous cuisine of Louisiana. He opened his first restaurant in 1978 and quickly gained fame for infusing the food, hospitality and culture of Louisiana into Chef John Folse and Company, a corporate conglomerate that has opened restaurants in the United States, Japan, China, Hong Kong, France, the Soviet Union, England, Colombia and Taiwan.

The company has also branched into a number of other businesses, including events management and catering, bed and breakfasts, a book publishing firm, a food manufacturing plant, a radio talk show, a syndicated TV cooking series and a full-service digital recording studio.

Folse opened the first American restaurant on Soviet soil and was the first non-Italian chef to develop and cook a Vatican State dinner for Pope John Paul II. He has received a number of awards and accolades, including two honorary degrees and the naming of a culinary school in his honour. The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., opened in 1994.

While at Guelph, he will spend his time speaking to graduate and undergraduate classes and teaching courses. “We’re thrilled that he’s coming to campus,” said HTM professor Bob Harrington, a former dean of the Folse institute.

“Chef John Folse brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about the hospitality industry and opportunities for our graduates in areas that they may not be aware of based on their studies in more traditional areas of the industry. He is a successful entrepreneur who has built a multi-million-dollar business in a variety of segments of the industry.”