Accolades

Feeding America – We represented the Green Bay Packers at the Taste of the NFL for 11 years helping to raise more than 11 million dollars for hunger relief :: Deer Park Buddhist Center – Personally met and cooked for His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet (2007) :: James Beard Foundation – 3-time Guest Chef at the James Beard House, NYC

James Beard Foundation – 12-time Host of Out-of-House Event at Sanford Restaurant:  Each was a 3-day event where I shared my kitchen with over 60 premier chefs and wine makers from around the country including Charlie Trotter, Rick Bayless, Suzanne Goin, David Burke, Mario Batali, Jody Adams, Rocco DiSpirito, Paul Kahan, Michael White, Grant Achatz, Barbara Lynch, Randall Graham and Terry Theise, all who helped raise local scholarship funds for apprentices attending MATC (Milwaukee Area Technical College) and for the James Beard Foundation.

James Beard Foundation – Guest Chef at numerous Out-of-House Events nationwide

Celebrity Chef Meals on Wheels
Chicago American Cancer Society Ball
Camp Heartland
Ronald McDonald House
American Liver Foundation
CASA Pleasures Of The Palate – Phoenecian Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona

2011 World Equestrian Games
2002 Salt Lake City Olympics
Seabourn, Crystal and Viking River Cruises
Bikeriders of Boston
European Chef Tours
Sur La Table
Julia Child’s 80th Birthday, PBS Compliments To The Chef
Robert Mondavi’s 90th Birthday, Four Seasons, Chicago
James Beard Foundation – Salute to Julia Child
NYC James Beard Foundation – Salute to American Chefs
NYC James Beard Foundation – National Advisory Board
NYC National Chef Cheese Ambassador
American Dairy Council National Chef Cheese Ambassador
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Chef Ambassador
National Pork Council

2010 & 2011 – “29 Food/29 Service” Rating :: Zagat Guide (their highest rating)
2006 America’s top 50 Restaurants :: Gourmet Magazine
2001 America’s Top 50 Restaurants :: Gourmet Magazine
1996 Perrier Jouët Best Chef Midwest :: James Beard Foundation (nominated for Best Chef Midwest for 6 years from 1991 to 1996)
1995 Ivy Award :: Restaurants & Institutions
1994 Fine Dining Hall of Fame :: Nation’s Restaurant News
Four-Diamond Award :: AAA
Four-Stars :: Mobil Travel Guide
1990-2011 Award of Excellence :: Wine Spectator
DiRona Award
United States Best New Restaurants of 1990 :: Esquire Magazine

1989 National Finalist :: American Seafood Challenge (received one of only two awarded American Culinary Federation gold medals)
1988 National Finalist :: Bocuse d’Or
25 Hot New Chefs of 1985 :: Food & Wine Magazine