Celebrating a Decade of Culinary Excellence: The Philly Chef Conference Returns

The Philly Chef Conference, a renowned event that has been captivating the culinary community for the past 10 years, is set to return on October 13-14. Originating from Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions, this conference has become a cherished tradition, providing students with invaluable opportunities to learn from industry leaders and connect with the vibrant food scene in Philadelphia.

Elevating the Culinary Landscape: A Decade of Inspiration and Innovation

Fostering Student Engagement and Experiential Learning

The Philly Chef Conference has always been a platform for Drexel students to showcase their talents and gain hands-on experience in event management and execution. "The Philly Chef Conference has become the premier event for our department and enables students to not only network, but to learn about larger aspects of the industry outside of a traditional classroom setting," said Paul O'Neill, an assistant clinical professor and chair of the Philly Chef Conference. This year's conference promises to be even more focused on engaging students, with a lineup of notable alumni and industry experts sharing their insights and experiences.

Celebrating Philadelphia's Vibrant Food Scene

The conference will feature a diverse array of prominent Philadelphia chefs and restaurateurs, including Ellen Yin, Amanda Schulman, Kurt Evans, Jezabel Careaga, Nick Elmi, Brian Lofink, Shola Olunyolo, Brad Daniels, Clara Park, Jacob Trinh, and Nick Bazik. These culinary leaders will lead discussions and demonstrations, showcasing the city's thriving food and hospitality industry. "We love hosting this fun event where our fabulous students can mix, mingle and learn from industry experts," said Rosemary Trout, DHSc, associate clinical professor and program director of Culinary Arts and Food Science in Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions. "It's an honor to showcase some aspects of food media, and the food scene in Philadelphia, here on campus."

Exploring the Latest Trends and Techniques

The two-day conference will offer a wide range of educational sessions, covering topics such as ingredient sourcing and sustainability, media training and legal issues, vegan desserts and goat butchery, and maximizing kitchen equipment and labor pools. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the ever-evolving industry and gain insights from industry experts, authors, and celebrity chefs from both within and beyond the city.

Celebrating a Decade of Culinary Excellence

The Philly Chef Conference has become a renowned event, attracting industry professionals and food enthusiasts alike. "Drexel has a long tradition of offering a leading-edge culinary and food training and networking experiences with our Philly Chef Conference," said Glenn Williams, PhD, senior associate dean of Health Professions in Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions. "We are excited about this year's conference, which highlights outstanding alumni, our faculty and their expertise, and friends from Philadelphia's vibrant, award-winning food and hospitality scene. It is something people in the food and hospitality industry won't want to miss."

Indulging in Culinary Delights

The conference will feature an array of food and beverage offerings from local purveyors, including Slow Drinks, Baba's Brew, DiBruno Bros., Goodlands Foods, Third Wheel Cheese Company, TBJ Gourmet, Poppa's Custard, Pizza Quest, Perrystead Dairy, Spread Bagels, Essen Bakery, Farina Pasta and Noodle, MacMart, Breezy's Deli, High Street, Downeast Dayboat, Pizza Freak, and more. The conference reception will be held at Broad Street Love, hosted by Chef Joncarl Lachman and sponsored by the Royal Restaurant Group.

Celebrating a Legacy of Culinary Excellence

The Philly Chef Conference has become a trademark of Drexel University, showcasing the institution's commitment to providing exceptional culinary and food-related education. Founded by alumni of the food and hospitality management programs in 2013, the conference has been held annually, led by the Philly Chef Conference Planning Committee, which includes Drexel faculty, professional staff, and industry leaders.