PHILADELPHIA – Today, Mayor Jim Kenney honored Philadelphia’s three James Beard Award-winning chefs and restaurateurs, Michael Solomonov, Stephen Starr and Greg Vernick, during a special ceremony and food tasting event with culinary students at Murrell Dobbins CTE High School in North Philadelphia.
“I am truly honored that these talented award winners represent our great city, and am thrilled to connect them with our culinary students at Dobbins,” said Mayor Kenney. “We applaud these creative visionaries who build businesses that provide jobs and pathways to great careers, as well as raise the profile of Philadelphia as a food destination.”
During the program, the students participated in a panel Q&A to learn more about what motivated these top restaurant professionals to pursue their careers. They also offered the restaurateurs samples of their own cuisine for tasting. Another presented his restaurant/café concept to connect and unite fellow students over food.
The James Beard Foundation held its annual Awards Gala May 1 in Chicago, where Philadelphia took three awards, a record for the city. Michael Solomonov received Outstanding Chef for his restaurant Zahav; Stephen Starr of STARR Restaurants received Outstanding Restaurateur; and Greg Vernick of Vernick Food & Drink received Best Chef – Mid Atlantic.
Murrell Dobbins CTE High School is one of the city’s first community schools, an initiative funded by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax. Community schools are public schools where a full-time coordinator works with the entire school community—students, parents, teachers, administrators, service providers, and neighbors—to identify the community’s most pressing needs, such as expanded medical services, after-school programming, and job training. Utilizing a rigorous career technical education model, the Dobbins Culinary Arts program also partners with Unite Here! to ensure that students are prepared for jobs after high school and receive support from labor professionals in gaining employment.
The hospitality and dining industry is a key component of the city’s thriving tourism sector, attracting both visitors and residents alike to exceptional restaurants, cafes, food trucks and eateries throughout the neighborhoods of Philadelphia.