Minority-focused culinary scholarship begins 2012 application process

By David T. Baker
The Louisiana Weekly

New Orleans, LA — Chefs Move! – the culinary scholarship program sponsored by the John Besh Foundation – will begin accepting applications for its 2012 recipients on January 1, 2012.

The program is a yearlong, fully-paid scholarship open to minority applicants from the New Orleans area. Developed in early 2011 by New Orleans chef John Besh and marketing professional Jessica Bride, the goal of the program is to increase opportunities for minorities in the culinary field.

During the program’s 2011 selection process, only one applicant was chosen to participate in the culinary program as part of the scholarship; the program has since expanded to include a second scholarship recipient for 2012.

“This is due to the kind generosity of many donors and partners including the International Culinary Center and Zatarains,” executive director Emery Whalen said in an email. “The Foundation is thrilled to announce that they will be able to award two scholarships in 2012,” Whalen said.

Applicants selected for the program will spend nine months in a career program at the The French Culinary Institute in New York City then return to New Orleans after graduation to complete an internship with a Besh Restaurant Group restaurant.

The scholarship covers the costs of tuition at the institute and housing in New York for both recipients as well as uniforms and equipment, housing, travel to and from New York, job placement assistance while in New York and a paid eight-week internship with Besh Restaurant Group.

All applicants must have at least one year of restaurant experience in order to qualify, or have come through The National Restaurant Association’s Pro-Start Program. (The French Culinary Institute requires a high school diploma or G.E.D.)

The deadline for applications is April 30, 2012, and winners will be announced June 1. For more information on the scholarship program or to get a copy of the application, visit www.chefsmove.org.