On Feb. 11, Ted Peters, executive chef of Azuréa at One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa in Atlantic Beach, Fla., showcased his knack for preparing regional seafood dishes when he prepared a sea-themed, four-course meal plus dessert with the help of Azuréa pastry chef Nancy Slatsky at the James Beard House.

A specialty dish of chef Peters' that showcases his regional seafood focus, Coriander dusted Chilean sea bass with spiny lobster-mango gastrique and coriander emulsion, is included below with wine pairing from Chef Magazine's wine consultant Marlene Rossman.

Coriander Dusted Chilean Sea Bass with Spiny Lobster-Mango Gastrique and Coriander Emulsion
Ted Peters, executive chef, Azuréa at One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa, Atlantic Beach, Fla.

Yield: 4 servings

1/4 oz. coriander seed, toasted and ground
1/4 oz. white peppercorns, toasted and ground
1/4 oz. mustard seed, toasted and ground
1/4 oz. fennel seed, toasted and ground
4 5-oz. Chilean sea bass fillets
Salt, to taste
2 oz. grape seed oil
2 shallots, shaved
Butter, softened, as needed
3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 oz. cream
1 cinnamon stick, toasted and ground
Pepper, to taste
1 bunch cilantro, chopped and divided
3 oz. olive oil
Spiny Lobster-Mango Gastrique (recipe follows)
2 c. mixed micro herbs, seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper

Method (1) Blend together the ground coriander, white pepper, mustard and fennel seed in a bowl to make toasted coriander "dust." Season sea bass with salt and toasted coriander dust. Reserve remaining dust for coriander oil. In a medium hot pan, add grape seed oil, and sauté fish on both sides. Add shaved shallots and dollop of butter, and place in a 350°F oven for 4 minutes. Remove fish, and keep warm. (2) Simmer peeled potatoes in salted water until tender. Place through ricer, and whip in 2 oz. soft butter and cream. Season with cinnamon, salt and pepper. Place in piping bag, and reserve for plating. (3) Blanch and shock cilantro, drain well and blend with reserved coriander dust and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and strain through cheese cloth. Pour coriander oil into squeeze bottle, and reserve. (4) To serve, place 2 oz. sweet potato purée in center of vessel and spoon Spiny Lobster-Mango Gastrique ground around sweet potatoes. Place seared sea bass in center. Garnish with herb salad, coriander oil and cilantro leaves.

Lobster-Mango Gastrique
1 oz. olive oil
2 shallots, shaved
6 cloves garlic, shaved
2 jalapeños, small dice
2 roasted piquillo chiles, julienne
4 limes, juiced and reserved
3 oz. light brown sugar
8 oz. spiny lobster meat, roasted, shelled and diced
2 mangoes, diced and cubed
2 oz. butter
Cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Method (1) In medium-high heat sauté pan, add olive oil, garlic and jalapeño. Add red peppers, and deglaze with lime juice. (2) Whisk in light brown sugar, and reduce until syrup consistency. (3) Right before plating add lobster, mango, butter and cilantro until emulsified.

Wine pairing: Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay "Canoe Ridge" 2007 (Washington State)
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World-renowned chef Jean Joho's Everest restaurant recently became the only Chicago restaurant to be made a member of Relais & Châteaux, an association established in France that consists of the finest luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants around the world.

The dining room at Everest

Everest, located on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange, offers a fine-dining menu and award-winning wine list with influences from Joho's roots in Alsace, France.

Known for strict world admissions standards, Relais & Châteaux is a collection of nearly 500 restaurants and hotels in 55 countries that further its mission of spreading the art of living. For more information, visit www.relaischateaux.com.
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The James Beard Foundation has announced the semifinalists for the chef and restaurant categories of the 2010 James Beard Awards.

The semifinalists were selected by a panel of 400 judges out of 21,000 entries submitted online late in 2009. Finalists will be announced March 22 and winners will be selected at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on May 3. To download the complete list of semifinalists, click here.
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Brookdale Senior Living, the largest owner and operator of senior living communities in the United States, launched the nationwide Ultimate Chef America competition for Brookdale professional chefs on Jan. 28 in Phoenix. In each city, two teams of four Brookdale chefs compete in a two-hour cooking competition focused on healthy cooking for seniors. The contest will make stops in five more U.S. cities during 2010.

The contest is open to Brookdale dining services managers, executive chefs, kitchen managers and cooks. All nominations will be reviewed by the divisional Ultimate Chef America nominating committee. Each divisional competition will be limited to eights chefs.

For more information about Ultimate Chef America, visit www.ultimatechefamerica.com and www.facebook.com/ultimatechefbrookdale.
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Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA) named Copley's on Palm Canyon the 2009 Restaurateur of the Year out of seven nominees for the title. The Hospitality Achievement Awards recently recognized restaurateurs, hoteliers and hospitality business owners throughout the desert community who were nominated by their peers.
Owned by husband and wife team executive chef Andrew Copley and business manager Juliana Copley (pictured, above), Copley's has worked alongside the Palm Springs CVA for several years and offers contemporary California-American cuisine.

"Andrew and Juliana Copley provide tremendous support to the CVA," said Michael Corbett, presenter of the 2009 Hospitality Achievement Awards, in a statement. "As hospitality partners, Andrew and Juliana continue to showcase our desert in the best possible light."

For more information about Copley's or its menu, visit www.copleyspalmsprings.com.
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The National Restaurant Association's 2010 Public Affairs Conference will take place April 14 to 16 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., hosting a dynamic lineup of political experts and foodservice industry leaders.

The conference will offer restaurateurs from across the country the chance to meet with their members of Congress to advocate for the restaurant industry and discuss issues affecting their businesses. Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Dennis Hastert will be the conference's keynote speaker. John Mercurio, political pundit and executive editor of The National Journal's The Hotline, will provide an account of the political leaders and events in the coming year that will shape the state of the foodservice industry.

For more information, visit www.restaurant.org.
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The Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) named Everett Rand, president and chief beverage officer of Midway Wholesalers Inc., the 2010 chairman of the board on Feb. 16 during its annual meeting and installation of officers dinner. Midway Wholesalers Inc. is the only African American-owned spirit distribution company in Illinois.

In addition to his role at Midway Wholesalers, Rand also serves on the boards of the Better Boys Foundation, Sinai Hospital, Chicago State University, Chicago Gateway Green and is the founder and organizer of the Chicago Football Classic.
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(l to r) Marie Donovan, advisor to For the Love of Chocolate; Ted Timm, board member, For the Love of Chocolate; Kirk Dakarian, board member, For the Love of Chocolate; Violet Orellana, scholarship recipient; Tulin Tuzel, vice president of research and development at Sara Lee Corp.; Franco Pacini of the French Pastry School; and chef Jacquy Pfeiffer of the French Pastry School during the Sara Lee Corp. Scholarship presentation

The French Pastry School at City Colleges of Chicago saw an attendance of more than 450 people at its annual fundraiser, For The Love of Chocolate, on Feb. 6. With the support of sponsors and guests, For The Love of Chocolate Foundation cleared over $68,000 for pastry scholarships for future applicants to L'Art de la Pâtisserie, the full-time, 24-week professional pastry and baking program.

Guests, sponsors, students, alumni and chefs from Chicago and around the country gathered to partake in more than 40 chefs' specialties from fine cuisine to exquisite desserts to chocolate bonbons. Some of the country's most celebrated chefs were present, including Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill; Della Gossett of Charlie Trotter's; Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare; Christophe David of NoMi; Jean Joho of Everest; Frederic Robert of The Wynn Las Vegas; and Kai Lermen of The Peninsula.

Alumna of the French Pastry School Chris Kadow-Dougherty, chef-owner of Whimsical Candy, presented her signature candy, La-Dee-Dahs.

Four current students enrolled in The French Pastry School's L'Art de la Pâtisserie received For the Love of Chocolate Scholarships from funds raised last year with the help of generous sponsors. Kaitlin Bolt received the Barry Callebaut Scholarship; Stephanie Evans was awarded the Coalesse/Office Concepts Scholarship; Sara Lee Corp. made a scholarship possible for Violet Orellana; and Chelsey Torres received the Irinox USA Scholarship. These students were recognized for their achievement at the event.

(l to r) Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer, French Pastry School; Kennedy-King College president John Dozier with wife Victoria; Franco Pacini of French Pastry School; and chef Sebastien Cannone, MOF, French Pastry School

"To be able to help future students in pursuing their dream of attending pastry school is a great thing," said Jacquy Pfeiffer, academic dean for student affairs at The French Pastry School, "It's also wonderful for our current students to team up with people from the industry, to get a taste for what’s in store for them when they graduate!"

The 6th Annual "For the Love of Chocolate" Gala at The French Pastry School will take place on February 5, 2011 for an all new chocolate extravaganza. More details will be available at www.fortheloveofchocolatefoundation.org.
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