Virginia College School of Business and Health in Chattanooga announced that one of its instructors, Chef Andrea Cagle, has been chosen to display her culinary talents at the upcoming presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Cagle is a chef instructor at Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College School of Business and Health in Chattanooga, and will follow in the footsteps of fellow Culinard instructor and program director Chef Philippe Gehin, who prepared a private dinner for President Barack Obama shortly after being elected in his first term.
“We are so proud of Chef Andrea Cagle as she represents Culinard at the nation’s capital,” said Mr. Gehin. “I was honored to cook for the President at his first inauguration, and now it is Chef Cagle’s turn. She is extremely talented and will represent Virginia College well.”
Ms. Cagle will lend her culinary expertise to help with this year’s inaugural balls, receptions and other events at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center taking place throughout the inauguration week of Jan. 14-21, of which President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to attend.
“We cannot think of anyone better to prepare a meal for the President of the United States other than our very own Culinard instructors,” says Virginia College School of Business and Health Campus President Dominick DeLorenzo. “We couldn’t be more proud of Chef Cagle for this enormous honor!”
Since opening, Culinard has trained more than 1,000 chefs. Culinard offers diplomas in culinary arts or pastry arts, both of which can be obtained in 36 weeks. These intensive programs put students in the kitchen on the first day of class and prepare them for careers in restaurants, hotels, resorts, casinos, cruise ships, catering companies, hospitals and more. Culinard also offers an online associate degree in culinary arts for students who already have formal training in culinary skills at a post-secondary level, but who want an associate degree and a broader skill base to increase opportunities for employment and advancement.
For more information about Culinard or Virginia College School of Business and Health in Chattanooga, visit www.culinard.com or www.vc.edu/chattanooga.
Chef Andrea Cagle studied Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu in Atlanta. She has over 18 years of experience in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Her culinary experience includes serving as Executive Chef/Owner of Kozy Cooking Catering in Chattanooga. She also trained with Chef Holly Chute, executive chef for the governor of Georgia. Before coming to Culinard, she worked with Chef Daniel Lindley, executive chef and owner of St. Johns Restaurant in Chattanooga and a three-time James Beard Foundation nominee.
Ms. Cagle is a member of the American Culinary Foundation, Slow Food International Association and an advocate for Share Our Strength's "No Kid Hungry" program. She also works with a nonprofit organization, East Chattanooga Improvement, as a mentor for inner-city youth.