FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 26, 2010

Contact:  Julia Shell at juliashell@juliashellpr.com or 312-203-3130

CHICAGO CULINARY MUSEUM AND CHEFS HALL OF FAME

ANNOUNCES INDUCTION OF CHEF ART SMITH FOR 2010

(CHICAGO, IL) – The Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the induction of their fifth chef, Chef Art Smith, into the Chefs Hall of Fame for 2010.  Chef Smith will be formally inducted at an event this September, at a date to be announced, which will be open to the public and will also serve as a fundraiser for the Chicago Culinary Museum.  Previous inductees include Chef Charlie Trotter in 2006, Chef Jimmy Bannos in 2007, Chef Rick Bayless in 2008 and Chef Carrie Nahabedian in 2009.

Chef Smith is the executive chef and co-owner of Table fifty-two and Art and Soul restaurants. Previously, Smith was the personal chef to Oprah Winfrey, a position that lasted ten years, and he continues to coordinate and cook for special events Ms. Winfrey hosts.

Smith has made several television appearances including Top Chef and Top Chef Masters.  He has also made regular television appearances on programs such as Iron Chef America, The Today Show and Oprah in addition to having served as a Williams-Sonoma culinary instructor and the special events chef for Martha Stewart Living magazine.   Smith is currently in production of his new television series with TLC tilted Comfort Food, which explores the obsessions, triumphs, and secrets behind some of America’s favorite comfort foods. Additionally, Smith is a contributing editor to O, the Oprah Magazine and the author of three award-winning cookbooks: Back to the Table; Kitchen Life: Real Food for Real Families; and Back to the Family.

In 2003 he founded Common Threads, a non-profit organization that teaches children about diversity and tolerance through the world's great cultures.  For his tireless leadership of Common Threads, Smith was honored by Chicago magazine as a Chicagoan of the Year in 2007. That same year, the prestigious James Beard Foundation named him Humanitarian of the Year.

 “I am more than honored to be inducted into the Chicago Culinary Museum's Chefs Hall of Fame for 2010 in Chicago, my adopted home, a place of great beauty with a backbone. To be in the company of all the great Chicago chefs: Trotter, Nahabedian, Bayless, Banos. Wow, it’s an American culinary dream!” stated Smith, when informed of his induction into the Chefs Hall of Fame.

“Our selection of Chef Art Smith as the 2010 inductee was effortless.  Not only is he an outstanding chef with many successes and notoriety under his belt, but he is also an exemplary humanitarian.  His work with his own charity, among others, show what a caring and giving individual he truly is, and for that, he should be honored and admired.” stated Chef John Kaufmann, Museum co-founder.

About the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame:

Founded in 2006 by Chefs John Castro and John Kaufmann in conjunction with the Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Association, Inc., the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame was created to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Chicago chefs, food manufacturers, restaurateurs and hoteliers, while promoting and celebrating Chicago as a culinary Mecca.  In order to preserve and foster Chicago’s rich and diverse culinary history, the museum is dedicated to providing educational programs for all ages.  It is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose goal is to raise funds and awareness in an effort to establish a physical museum in Chicago.  For more information on the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame, please visit www.thechicagoculinarymuseum.org or call 312-718-3221.

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