Monday, April 16th | Concurrent Education Session | 3:00-4:00pm
Your Future in Culinary Events
This education session will cover topics such as culinary trends, dietary restrictions, career options for recent graduates. Come and learn about how the Culinary Arts Program at Saint Louis Community College is staying ahead of the trend and how you can help you to propel your career in culinary events.
Chef Martin Lopez
Born in Mexico City to a hardworking, dedicated Mother, Chef Martin was introduced to the versatility of ingredients at an early age. After travels to Europe, Mexico, and South America, Chef Martin has created an array of multicultural dishes by combining ingredients from all around the world to create dishes that now all of us are more accustomed to. Chef Martin was able to marry his love of art, cooking, and his pride in his Latino and Hispanic background to form what he calls “Mexican Novelle”—a cuisine with European undertones.
In 2009 Chef Martin was the founder of ChefMartin.ne. He developed this nonprofit site to share his feelings and passion for cooking and the community. He now has thousands of followers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on his website. As he continues to cook, write, develop recipes, and share his passion for cooking and food trends, he is often heard on the Radio and seen on TV shows in the USA and Mexico in an array of networks including Univision, Televisa, CBS, FOX, TLC, and ABC. Chef Martin also presents and judges food competitions in renowned national food festivals such as “The Taste of St Louis, “Working Women’s Survival Show”, and “The Bite of Seattle”.
Chef Martin was one of the leading Chefs responsible for the opening of one of the biggest attractions in St Louis: Cardinals Nation. He was also appointed lead Chef for the 2009 MLB All-Star Game Gala, serving thousands of people including the President of the United States, Barack Obama. As a growth consultant for food establishments, Chef Martin has teamed up with top restauranteurs from around the country. Recently in 2013, Chef Martin and Richard Nix –owner of Butler’s Pantry and Bixby’s at the History Museum in St. Louis, MO—created one of the newest, most delicious spots in the country, with a new concept in an Italian bakery called Piccione Pastry. His Passion for world gastronomy, culture, education, and cooking continues as he is now a regular columnist for one of the leading professional hospitality magazines, Missouri Meetings & Events and recently joined the faculty for the St Louis Community College Hospitality Program at Forest Park which ranks among the top hospitality programs in the country.
Professional Chef, Food Writer, Blogger and Culinary Journalist, Published Author, Culinary Ambassador for the Hispanic Community, TV Personality and Host.
Chef Casey Shiller
Casey Shiller, CEPC, CCE, AAC, WCPC is the Program Coordinator of Baking and Pastry Arts for St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. Shiller was named the ACF’s National Chef Educator of the Year in 2012, and received the ACF Presidential Medallion following his keynote speaking engagement at the Chef Connect conference in 2017. Shiller was named the 2013 ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis’ Chef of the Year; Teacher of the Year for St. Louis Community College in 2010, and received Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2011.
In June 2011, Chef Shiller was the winning contestant on the nationally-broadcast Television Food Network program, Cupcake Wars, and was featured once again on the program in January 2012, in a “Battle of the Champions” episode. Shiller appeared and garnered a second win on Cupcake Wars in 2013, leading to an appearance at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Shiller is a national judge for Skills USA and ProStart youth culinary competitions and is considered a global leader on educational pastry programming.