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Jeremiah_Tower-menumasters-promo.jpg Sam Hanna

Jeremiah Tower to be inducted into MenuMasters Hall of Fame

Iconic chef of Chez Panisse and Stars to be honored in May

Jeremiah Tower, who helped introduce the United States to farm-to-table dining and then transformed the San Francisco dining scene, is being inducted into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame in May.

He will be honored at this year’s Nation’s Restaurant News MenuMasters gala, sponsored by Ventura Foods, at the Drake Hotel in Chicago on May 18.

Inductees into the hall of fame have spent their careers promoting culinary excellence in American foodservice. Past winners have included Daniel Boulud, José Andrés, Jacques Pépin and Wolfgang Puck.

Tower began his culinary career in 1972 as co-owner and executive chef of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., where he helped spark the California Cuisine movement driven by local, seasonal ingredients.

Then he opened Stars in San Francisco in 1984, which became one of the top grossing independent restaurants in the United States, as well as an important spot to see and be seen.

Stars was followed by other restaurants, including the Peak Café in Hong Kong and more Stars locations in Singapore and Manila. He sold the Stars group in 2000.

“Jeremiah Tower will fit right in among previous MenuMasters Hall of fame inductees,” Bret Thorn, senior food editor of NRN and Restaurant Hospitality, said. “First he helped change the way American restaurants treat their food at Chez Panisse, and then he transformed the role of a chef by being a gracious host at Stars.”

The James Beard Foundation named Tower best chef in California in 1993 and “Outstanding Chef” in the United States in 1996. He was inducted into the NRN Fine Dining Hall of Fame in 1991. He is a board member of the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and in the American Culinary Federation hall of fame. He has written eight books.

MenuMasters is an invitation only event for foodservice executives. Join Follow #MenuMasters on social media to join the excitement, and get more information at www.menumasters.com. On the website you can also submit a form to Request an Invitation. You will receive notification of your invitation status by email within two business days. Only current restaurant and non-commercial operators will be considered for an invitation. 

TAGS: People News
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