Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Associate Vice President, Marketing Communications, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

2/10/09
Story by Peggy Graham

Chef Debbie Gold to host two events at JCCC

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – As part of the Johnson County Community College Master Chef Series, Chef Debbie Gold, executive chef, The American Restaurant, will host a morning master cooking class and an evening dinner on Wednesday, March 4, in the Capitol Federal Conference Room of the Regnier Center, JCCC.

• Gold will demonstrate her award-winning recipes during the master cooking class from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Cost is $25.
• A reception of hors d’ouevres and sparkling beverages begins at 6 p.m., and a four-course dinner of Gold’s menus prepared by JCCC faculty chefs and culinary students begins at 7 p.m. The cost of the reception and dinner is $80 of which $40 is tax deductible.

The menu will be:
Savory plum beignets, guanciale and curry salt
Roasted beets, kumquats, pumpernickel and parsley pistou
Bacon braised veal, quince purée, barley and mushroom broth
Double chocolate biscuits with pears and salt caramel

Proceeds from both events benefit the JCCC culinary team. To make reservations, call the JCCC Foundation at 913-469-3835.

Gold, a native of Chicago, studied restaurant management at the University of Illinois and then attended L’Ecole Hoteliere de Tain L’Hermitage in France’s Rhone Valley. She apprenticed two years at Michelin-starred French restaurants. Before coming to Kansas City, she worked at prestigious restaurants in Chicago, several restaurants in the Rhone Valley and Nice, France.

When The American Restaurant, Kansas City, Mo., was in need of a new chef, it was a perfect match. Esquire named Gold a “Chef to Watch” in 1997, the same year she received the first of three nominations for the James Beard Foundation “Best Chef: Midwest,” winning gold in 1999.

In 2002, Gold left The American Restaurant to open her own restaurant, 40 Sardines, Overland Park. The restaurant received many accolades, including a nomination for “Best New Restaurant” from the James Beard Foundation.  Gold decided to close 40 Sardines in 2008. She has returned as executive chef at The American Restaurant, enabling her to focus more fully on the business of cooking and creating dishes infused with incredible flavors.

Gold continues to bring national attention to Kansas City. As an active member of the culinary community, she has hosted James Beard Foundation fund-raising dinners, as well as developing local seminars and special events that feature renowned chefs from across the country. Her menu for the Crayola Cafe, a well-known children's restaurant, was named the #1 Kids' Menu in America by Restaurant Hospitality.