Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Chef & Hotel Profile

CHEF CURTIS STONE RECIEVES TORCH AWARD AT 2017 WESTERN FOODSERVICE & HOSPITALITY EXPO

The 2017 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo presented the 2017 TORCH Award to Curtis Stone, chef and owner of restaurants Maude in Beverly Hills and Gwen in Hollywood. The Torch Award presentation and culinary demonstration by Chef Curtis Stone took place on Monday, August 28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, The award presentation took place at the show's Center Stage Theater and Chef Curtis Stone presented a culinary demonstration as well as signed copies of his book, Good Food, Good Life.

"We are honored that Curtis Stone joined us at this year's event," said Tom Loughran, Vice President, Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo." Along with his successful career as a chef, restaurateur, media personality, businessman, and New York Times best-selling author, Curtis' strong commitment to giving back, offering second chances to individuals by hiring through Chrysalis and his #Commit2One philosophy made him the obvious choice to be this year's Torch Award recipient."

In February 2014, Curtis opened his debut solo restaurant, Maude, in Beverly Hills, which has garnered accolades from the James Beard Foundation, TIME/Travel & Leisure, Eater LA, LA Weekly and more. Last summer, Curtis partnered with his brother Luke to open one of the most anticipated restaurants of 2016: Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant, in Hollywood. Gwen is a European-style butcher shop and fine-dining restaurant, and since opening, Gwen has received acclaim from LA Weekly, Eater National and, among other notable credits, was also listed on The Robb Report's "Best of the Best New Restaurants in the World."

Each year, Curtis strongly commits to one cause or organization. This year, he is working with and has employed a significant number of his restaurant staff from Chrysalis, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit dedicated to helping low income and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through jobs.

This fall, Curtis will be hosting his first season of Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking on PBS and will return to the Top Chef franchise as head judge of Top Chef Junior airing on the Universal Kids Network and Bravo. Recently chosen as Eater's "Los Angeles Chef of the Year," Curtis also serves as CEO of Stone's Food Inc., his culinary-focused consulting, content, and partnership company.

All attendees of this year's Western Food Expo had access to the presentation as well as 40+ hours of education and culinary events including the annual Culinary + Cocktail Clash, Rapid Fire Challenge, and more. For additional information visit www.westernfoodexpo.com

The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo gathers thousands of restaurant and foodservice professionals to gain experience and knowledge on how to become more informed, more educated, more competitive, and more profitable in the industry. The tradeshow and conference, started in 1936 is produced by Urban Expositions (www.urban-expo.com) and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association (www.calrest.org). The 2017 event will take place August 27-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. For more information, visit www.westernfoodexpo.com.

Founded in 1995, Urban Expositions, now operating as Clarion UX and owned by Clarion Events, produces and manages a portfolio of 36 trade and consumer events, serving a range of industry sectors including Gift, Souvenir, Art, Foodservice, Specialty Retail, Gaming, Automotive and Enthusiast Lifestyle, with offices in Kennesaw, GA, Chicago, IL, Shelton, CT, Portland, OR, and Boca Raton, FL. www.urban-expo.com.