Four Food & Wine best new chef alums go head-to-head to win the title, become member of Delta's culinary team.
ATLANTA – Delta Air Lines (is partnering with Food & Wine to create an original culinary competition video series, called “The Cabin Pressure Cook Off,” to find its newest chef. The winning chef will consult with Delta on menus for flights departing Atlanta.
Four former FOOD & WINE Best New Chefs winners will compete in the custom video series:
- Hugh Acheson of Empire State South in Atlanta and Five & Ten and The National in Athens, Ga.
- Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House in Atlanta
- Kelly English of Restaurant Iris and The Second Line in Memphis and Kelly English Steakhouse in St. Louis
- George Mendes of ALDEA in New York.
“We have been very focused on culinary design and the manner in which we provide more than 110,000 sophisticated, tasty meals each day on our flights around the world. This opportunity allows us to try something truly unique,” Joanne Smith, Delta’s senior vice president – In-Flight Service said. “No one knows great chefs like FOOD & WINE and we look forward to welcoming another chef of this caliber to our renowned culinary team.”
Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs awards platform, the four-episode series will launch in October, airing on Delta’s in-flight entertainment, delta.com and foodandwine.com. The new chef will join Delta’s culinary team which includes Michelle Bernstein, Michael Chiarello, and master sommelier Andrea Robinson.
“Delta’s passion and commitment to work with top epicurean talent and deliver the best customer service makes this an exciting partnership for us,” said Food & Wine Senior Vice President and Publisher Christina Grdovic. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with them on extending the Best New Chefs platform and to bring our brand of culinary expertise to the Delta audience.”
The Cabin Pressure Cook Off will feature culinary challenges and will be filmed at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. Television personality Jackie Tranchida will serve as the host, and judges include Delta Consulting Chef Michelle Bernstein, Master Sommelier for Delta Andrea Robinson, Union Square Hospitality Executives, David Swinghamer and Mark Maynard and Food & Wine Publisher Christina Grdovic.
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