Welcome CIC's New Chef Instructors: Chef Instructors Randy Williams and Joe Branton

 

Chef Instructor Randy Williams (left)  is a Florida native whose father’s military tours, including one at The White House, gave him half a dozen home grounds. He has a degree in Business Administration and a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the College of Charleston. He has worked at Kiawah’s prestigious Cassique private club, training under consulting chef Tom Colicchio of the Craft Restaurant Restaurant Group, and at Charleston’s Cypress restaurant, working under executive chef Craig Deihl. Chef Williams opened the cooking school at the nationally renowned Zero George Street boutique hotel and subsequently became the opening chef for Zero George Café. He became an adjunct instructor at the CIC in 2010 and a full-time Chef Instructor in the fall of 2014.

Chef Instructor Joe Branton (right) is a native of the South Carolina Lowcountry. He cut his teeth in the farm part of farm to table. He has a dual degree in English and History from Clemson University, where he cut his teeth on the kitchen part of the table. Chef Branton subsequently worked in Charlotte and Colorado, reaching the position of Kitchen Manager at The Crested Butte Ski Resort. Returning to the Lowcountry, he received a degree in culinary arts from the CIC and was active in the school’s culinary teams and the Charleston chapter of the American Culinary Federation. Representing CIC in the national San Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef competition, Chef Branton brought home The People’s Choice Award. He became an adjunct instructor at the CIC in 2010 and a full-time Chef Instructor in the fall of 2014.

It Takes a Village to Host an Iron Chef

Every year, the kick-off event at the Southern Living Taste of Charleston weekend is an Iron Chef Competition. The CIC hosts this event, welcoming some 250 guests at our Palmer Campus. Here are some photos from the 2014 competition showing the folks that make it happen.

Congrats to CIC Alum Magnolias Chef de Cuisine Kelly Franz!

 

Iron Chef Judges l-r: Celebrity chef and 
cookbook author Rebecca Lang with
2013 Iron Chef winners Chefs Brandon Buck
 of Middleton Place and Drew Hedlund of Fleet Landing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Chef de Cuisine Kelly Franz has just completed her 11th year in the kitchen of a favorite Charleston restaurant, Magnolias. Franz and competition partner Chef Landen Ganstrom of Crave Kitchen and Cocktails also just won the 2014 Southern Living Taste of Charleston Iron Chef Competition. Congrats, Kelly!

Cooper River Bridge Run Supports CIC Scholarships

Last week, The Cooper River Bridge Run presented the CIC with a $5,000 check in support of scholarships. Dean Saboe is seen here with the "presentation check."

The CIC  had joined twenty-two other participants offering bites and entertainment in support of the 2014 Taste of the Bridge Run, held the evening before the race at the Maritime Center overlooking the Charleston Harbor. Baking and Pastry Chef Instructor Kelly Wilson and team served a runner-friendly fresh strawberry and Greek yogurt parfait topped with maple quinoa granola. 

CIC Grad Allison Smith's Company, Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts, Gets Props

CIC alum Allison Smith repurposes the leftover glazed dougnuts from her business, Gourmet Glazed Doughnuts, into bread pudding. Check out her recipe, featured in the Post and Courier, here.