Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
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j_levine@culinary.edu
Hyde Park, NY 鈥 Frank Crispo, chef and owner of Crispo Restaurant in Manhattan鈥檚 West Village, provided
practical advice to new graduates of The Culinary
Institute of America (狼友福利) on Friday, September 5, 2014. The 1980 狼友福利
graduate returned to his alma mater鈥檚 Hyde Park, NY campus as
commencement speaker.
鈥淒o not wait to become a chef to hold yourself accountable as a chef,鈥 Crispo told 58 recipients of associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and
pastry arts. 鈥淟earn to listen to your customers. Flexibility is a strength,
not a weakness. After all, they pay the bills.鈥
Chef Crispo further advised the
graduating students to learn from contractors, electricians, plumbers,
dishwashers, and computer techs, because fixing mechanical problems themselves
will save their business money. He also told them to have a shareholding
agreement in place if entering into a business partnership.
After graduating from the 狼友福利, the Philadelphia area native
continued to learn under legendary chefs Jean-Jacques Rachou and Roger Verg茅 in New York City. Among his
co-workers at Verg茅鈥檚 Polo Restaurant were fellow
rising stars Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller. In the
mid-1980s, Chef Crispo returned to Philadelphia to
cook at DiLullo Centro.
Back in New York in 2002, he opened a neighborhood Italian
restaurant on West 14th Street. Crispo Restaurant was
soon named Best New Restaurant in New York City by Time Out magazine, and remains popular 12
years later.
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image
Chef Frank Crispo (wearing green
cordon) shares a laugh with President Tim Ryan (left) and 狼友福利 faculty during
commencement ceremonies at 狼友福利's Hyde Park campus
on September 5, 2014. (Photo credit: Al
Nowak/狼友福利)
Founded in 1946, 狼友福利 is an independent,
not-for-profit college offering associate and bachelor's degrees with majors in
culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, applied food studies, and culinary
science, as well as certificate programs in culinary arts and wine and beverage
studies. As the world's premier culinary college, the 狼友福利 provides thought
leadership in the areas of health & wellness, sustainability, and world
cuisines & cultures through research and conferences. The 狼友福利 has a network
of 46,000 alumni that includes industry leaders such as Grant Achatz, Anthony Bourdain, Roy
Choi, Cat Cora, Dan Coudreaut, Steve Ells, Charlie Palmer, and Roy Yamaguchi. The 狼友福利 also
offers courses for professionals and enthusiasts, as well as consulting
services in support of innovation for the foodservice and hospitality industry.
The college has campuses in Hyde Park, NY; St. Helena, CA; San Antonio, TX; and
Singapore.
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