2007 Looking back

Its been an extraordinary year for IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) members here in Mexico City with Presidential honors, international recognition and great career strides.

Here the Mexico IACP members who by their dedication and pre-
serverance to our professions have been recognized.

Carmen Ramirez Degollado of El Bajio restaurant was invited to the Star Chefs Congress, held in New York City, to do a presentation on Mexican sauces. Besides Carmen other invited chefs were Joel Robuchon, Elena Arzak, David Bouley, etc.. The creme de la creme of international culinary stars. But she could only stay for the day of her presentation, Sunday Sept. 16 2007, since the next day Monday Sept. 17, in Mexico, President Felipe Calderon honored her entrepreneurial career and presented her with a medal. Besides the original El Bajio restaurant, Carmen in the last 2 years, has opened 4 other locations throughout Mexico City.

Carmen and her daughter Mari Teri Degollado at Star Chefs.

Chef Enrique Olvera has been chosen to be directing chef for the hotels Condesa DF in Mexico City and La Purificadora in Puebla for the Habitagroup. He has also opened ENO, a gourmet shop in Lomas de Chapultepec,Mexico City (www.eno.com.mx). This while he maintains his own popular restaurant Pujol which is featured in the January 2008 Bon Appetit, Best of the Year issue.
(see www.pujol.com)

On October 8, prestigious Mexican Chefs, among them Carmen Ramirez Degollado and Enrique Olvera , who have banded together to form " Chefs al Rescate" ( Chefs to the rescue) presented $200,000 pesos to the Mexican YMCA to be used in the construction of a shelter for deported immigrant children on the Mexican American border.

Our newest IACP member Nicholas Gilman has just published "Good
Food in Mexico City: A Guide to Food Stalls, Fondas and Fine Dining"available on Amazon.com.

IACP member Magda Bogin was featured in the December Gourmet
magazine for her cooking school program in Tepoztlan Morelos,

 Mexico, for which I serve as Mexico City Culinary coordinator. ( http://www.cocinarmexicano.com/)

In October I was named leader of the Slow Food Convivium Condesa/Roma Slow Food. 

As a convivium leader I attended the Slow Food International Conference, the first to be held outside of Europe, in Puebla, Mexico. With recently elected SF vice-president Alice Waters. (http://www.chezpanisse.com/pgalice.html -- http://www.slowfood.com/)


And last but not least Mexico City was named Destination of the Year by
Bon Appetit magazine, issue January 2008.