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group photo of Secretary Blinken with the Culinary Corps

Diplomatic Culinary Partnership

The Diplomatic Culinary Partnership embraces and utilizes food, hospitality, and the dining experience as diplomatic tools to engage foreign dignitaries, bridge cultures, and strengthen relationships with civil society.

In partnership with the James Beard Foundation, the Department of State has curated the American Culinary Corps, a network of more than 80 of the United States’ influential chefs and culinary professionals who participate in programs and events on behalf of the Department of State in the United States and abroad to foster cross-cultural exchange.  Participants from the American Culinary Corps, the foreign Diplomatic Corps, culinary community members, and U.S. government officials gathered in-person on February 9, 2023 to celebrate the Department of State’s strides to advance the nation’s culinary diplomacy.

chefs during the Blue Jacket Ceremony
chefs during the Blue Jacket Ceremony
Ambassador Gifford speaks to chefs at the Blue Jacket ceremony
Ms Reichenbach speaks at a culinary ceremony
close up of the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership blue chef jacket
Ambassador Gifford hands a small item to a Culinary Corps chef
Ambassador Gifford shakes hands with a Culinary Corps chef
group photo of Secretary Blinken with the Culinary Corps
Ambassador Gifford speaks at podium during culinary reception
perspective of podium from the back of the crowd
Close up shot of Secretary Blinken in the Ben Franklin room
Jose Andres video plays during the culinary reception
Secretary Blinken speaks to crowd at the culinary reception
James Beard Foundation chef listens to remarks at the reception
Secretary Blinken speaks at podium
view of the Ben Franklin room as Secretary Blinken speaks to a crowd
Ambassador Gifford and Ms Reichenbach sign the memorandum of understanding
Ambassador Gifford and Ms Reichenbach shake hands while seated, Secretary Blinken stands in background clapping

Secretary Blinken Participates in a Culinary Corps Reception

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken participates in a MOU signing ceremony at a reception honoring the Diplomatic Chef Corps at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 9, 2023. [State Department photo by Ronny Przysucha/ Public Domain]

Remarks and Releases

Programs

American Culinary Corps Members

NameCityState
Adams, BleuProvoUT
Akunowicz, KarenBostonMA
Albisu, VictorViennaVA
Andrés, JoséWashingtonDC
Barreto, AngelWashingtonDC
Bianco, ChristopherPhoenixAZ
Bickford, MeganNew OrleansLA
Bouguettaya, Warda Farmington MI
Brandwein, AmyWashington DC 
Broussard, Maya CamilleChicagoIL
Bruner-Yang, ErikWashingtonDC
Button, KatherineAshevilleNC
Castro, AnaNew OrleansLA
Chang, TracyCambridgeMA
Cohen, LeahNew YorkNY 
Cookston, MelissaHernandoMS
de la Vega, IlianaAustinTX
Dooley, Carl Boston MA
Egger, RobertLos CerrillosNM
Erickson, ReneeSeattleWA
Friedman, MichaelWashingtonDC
Glover, Caroline Denver CO
Gonzalez, FernandoRiverdale ParkMD
Gourdet, GregoryPortlandOR
Grant, JeromeWashington DC
Gregg, AshleighAshevilleNC
Ha, ChristineHoustonTX
Hall, CarlaWashingtonDC 
Hill, MatthewArlingtonVA
Holland, TanyaOaklandCA
Irabién, ChristianWashingtonDC
Irani, MeherwanAshevilleNC
Jew, BrandonSan FranciscoCA
Jones, DeborahKansas CityKS
Jones Mosley, MaryKansas CityKS
Lakshmi, PadmaNew YorkNY
Langhorne, JeremiahWashington DC
Lee, EdwardLouisvilleKY
Lipscombe, AdrianRound RockTX
Luchetti, EmilyBolinasCA
Maii, RobynneHonoluluHI
Markert, AndrewWashington DC
Meek-Bradley, MarjorieNew YorkNY
Michel, OutiaMidwayKT
Miller, RachelBostonMA
Milliken, Mary SueLos AngelesCA
Morishita, MasakoWashingtonDC
Mulvaney, PatrickSacramentoCA
Myint, AnthonyPortlandOR
Nischan, MichelFairfieldCT
Nosrat, SaminOaklandCA
Nurdjaja, AyeshaBrooklyn NY
O’Connell, PatrickWashingtonVA
Onwuachi, KwameNew YorkNY
Peart, PetrinaCheyenneWY
Pope, MonicaHoustonTX
Portillo, DebbyRiverdale ParkMD
Previte, RoseWashingtonDC
Quatrano, AnneCartersvilleGA
Quinn, JessicaBrooklynNY
Quinn, TrinaBrooklynNY
Reed, BritMarysvilleWA
Rico, EdgarAustinTX
Russell, MariyaRomeoMI
Senior Alvarez, DaniellaArlington VA
Sherman, SeanMinneapolisMN
Silverman, AaronWashingtonDC
Smalls, AlexanderNew YorkNY
Sodi, RitaNew YorkNY
Solomonov, MikePhiladelphiaPA
Spero, JohnnyWashingtonDC
Sunderam, VikramMcLean VA
Tang, YuanWashingtonDC
Telepan, BillNew YorkNY
Tien, KevinWashingtonDC
Tomanetz, TootsieLexingtonTX
Velez, PaolaArlingtonVA
Wahpepah, CrystalOaklandCA
Williams, ErickChicagoIL
Williams, JodyNew YorkNY
Yang, RachelSeattleWA
Yeh, MollyEast Grand ForksMN
Young, GraceNew YorkNY

Kitchen Cabinet Members

NameTitleOrganization
Andrés, JoséChef & FounderWorld Central Kitchen
Brewster, JoanExecutive DirectorAmerican Master Chefs’ Order
Britton, JeniFounderJeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Brock Brown, KimberlyPresidentThe American Culinary Federation
Comerford, CristetaExecutive ChefThe White House
James, ChristopherChef & Event ManagerThe U.S. Department of State
Larkin, JasonExecutive Chef & Event ManagerThe U.S. Department of State
Miller, DaleCertified Master Chef & PresidentMaster Chef Consulting Group, LLC
Ryan, TimothyPresidentThe Culinary Institute of America
Sinopoli, JamesSenior Executive ChefThe U.S. Department of State

U.S. Department of State

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