President's Message - September 2001

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and welcome back. The ECB has had a busy couple of months starting with our June scholarship meeting. This is always a special meeting as the Club has an opportunity to fulfill one of the main principles on which it was founded - to give out scholarships. By doing this, we help to fulfill the dreams of young culinarians who will become the future of our great profession. This year the following scholarships were awarded: The Epicurean Club of Boston Scholarship, the Massachusetts Chef de Cuisine Scholarship and the ACF Greater Boston Scholarship. Recipients who were present at the meeting were Kerri Ann Hennessey - Endicott College (Danvers, MA); John Reidy - Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI) and Rebecca Brown - North Shore Community College (Danvers, MA). Scholarships were also awarded to The New England Culinary Institute (Montpelier, VT), and The Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY). Congratulations to all of the well-deserving recipients and best wishes for the future.

Following the awarding of our scholarships, I was privileged to make a special presentation to Dr. Noel Cullen, Ed. D., CMC, AAC, our National President and an ECB member. This award was created especially for Noel, to thank and praise him for his 4 years as our National President. The award was engraved with these words: "The Epicurean Club of Boston recognizes Dr. Noel Cullen, Ed. D., CMC, AAC…… With sincere appreciation for his unwavering dedication and ground breaking work as President of the American Culinary Federation, for his devotion and outstanding contributions to the education of all culinarians, and to the advancement of the culinary profession throughout the world." Thank you again, Noel. I would also like to thank our hosts, the Bayside Exposition Center, Boston Concessions Group, Inc. and Catering Director Joe DiCicco, as well as Chef Jay Vello and his staff for preparing a wonderful meal.

I am also very pleased to report that the new ECB website was developed and launched online over the summer. During the next few months, we will be adding more content to it. If you would like to visit our site, the address is www.theepicureanclubofboston.com. I would like to thank Warren Frank and Mike Ciuffetti, CEC for all of their hard work in setting up and maintaining our site. Great job, gentlemen!

At the end of July, many ECB members attended our National Convention in Las Vegas (my report is appears later in this newsletter). It was great to see that the ECB was once again in the national spotlight, as our members were awarded some very prestigious awards. I would like to congratulate Chef Denise Graffeo, CEC, AAC as she was awarded a President's Medallion by Dr. Noel Cullen. In receiving this medallion, Chef Graffeo became the first woman from the ECB to have been bestowed such an honor. The only other woman in Boston who has received this medallion is Despina Makredes, CCE, who received one when she was a member of the ACF Greater Boston Chapter. I would also like to congratulate Chef Tony Graffeo, CEC, AAC for being awarded one of the AAC's highest honors, the "AAC Chair's Award". Chef Graffeo received this award for the Northeast Region. This is a once in a lifetime award and is given only to AAC members who have devoted many years of dedication to the ACF, AAC and the ECB. Hey, what a team these Graffeo's make!! On behalf of the Club, I'd also like to congratulate Ed Repucci, CEC, AAC, who was officially inducted into the AAC Chefs Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Ed was not feeling well enough to make the trip, but he was represented by his daughter and granddaughter who accepted the Medallion on his behalf. We send Ed our sincere wishes for a speedy recovery. Finally, I would also like to congratulate our own Dr. Noel Cullen, who received many well-deserved awards and accolades as he retired as our National President. Noel, thanks again for those four terrific years! Your leadership will be missed, but your hard work will never be forgotten and will have a lasting effect on the ACF.

Please note that the rescheduled ECB Culinary Salon will be held in conjunction with the Dole & Bailey Culinary Fall Classic on September 17, in Woburn. With the help of Dole & Bailey, we have 3 ACF-approved judges, and the ECB Salon has been approved and sanctioned by the ACF. If you would like to compete for an ACF Medal or ECB Award, please call George Norton, CEC, AAC to obtain an application.

As you know, to facilitate the merger with the ACF Greater Boston Chapter last year, both clubs had to suspend their respective bylaws in order for the merger to take place. You will recall that a vote by the body of each club was taken and passed to suspend the bylaws. Thus the merger took place. The ECB has been operating this year under suspended bylaws and will do so until January 2002. I am bringing this point to your attention because this is an election year for the ECB. In order for the Club to hold the upcoming election, I must ask the voting ECB members to attend our next meeting, where I will ask the members to vote on reinstating only Article 6, "Nomination and Elections" of the bylaws, so that the Election Committee will have the authority to run this year's election. Please note that seating will be limited for dinner at this meeting, so please plan accordingly. I also urge any member who would like to run for office to speak with Steve LaCount, our Election Chair to obtain the criteria needed to run for a seat as an officer or as a board member.

Warmest regards,

Rico DiFronzo, CEC

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