Culinary Leadership Team

Our Culinary Leadership Team is responsible for honoring our rich history of sustainable practices and custom, chef-driven concepts and menus, while also driving a future of innovation and growth.

The team includes culinarians and operators that have been with us since ‘96, side-by-side with new talent, a variety of departments, and a diverse range of voices. Developing recipes and brands is just the tip of the iceberg – it's this team’s job to uphold our culture of culinary excellence. Chef Engagement events, vendor & food shows, strong sourcing & sustainability standards, and allergen safety play a huge part in our continued success as a contract dining service.

Chef Engagement Events

Parkhurst Family Meal, December, 2019
Nova Place, Pittsburgh, PA

In order to Create Authentic Culinary Experiences, our CLT must kick things off right at home - with Chef engagement events! These events are designed to harbor relationships, spark culinary innovation across our footprint, and create an environment of innovation and inclusivity.

At The Family Meal event in 2019, that meant coming together around a crowded table (and a crowded kitchen) to share recipes, techniques, and warm memories.

{"id":40,"firstName":"Chef Engagement ","lastName":"Events","combinedName":"Chef Engagement Events","title":"Parkhurst Family Meal","company":"December, 2019","location":"Nova Place, Pittsburgh, PA","bio":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn order to Create Authentic Culinary Experiences, our CLT must kick things off right at home - with Chef engagement events! These events are designed to harbor relationships, spark culinary innovation across our footprint, and create an environment of innovation and inclusivity.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt The Family Meal event in 2019, that meant coming together around a crowded table (and a crowded kitchen) to share recipes, techniques, and warm memories. \u003c/p\u003e","image":"2131924663Copy of Untitled (5).png","sortOrder":1,"active":true}
{"id":41,"firstName":"Chef Engagement ","lastName":"Events","combinedName":"Chef Engagement Events","title":"Parkhurst Family Meal","company":"December, 2019","location":"Nova Place, Pittsburgh, PA","bio":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn order to Create Authentic Culinary Experiences, our CLT must kick things off right at home - with Chef engagement events! These events are designed to harbor relationships, spark culinary innovation across our footprint, and create an environment of innovation and inclusivity.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt The Family Meal event in 2019, that meant coming together around a crowded table (and a crowded kitchen) to share recipes, techniques, and warm memories. \u003c/p\u003e","image":"15581110457.png","sortOrder":1,"active":true}
{"id":42,"firstName":"Chef Engagement ","lastName":"Events","combinedName":"Chef Engagement Events","title":"Parkhurst Family Meal","company":"December, 2019","location":"Nova Place, Pittsburgh, PA","bio":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn order to Create Authentic Culinary Experiences, our CLT must kick things off right at home - with Chef engagement events! These events are designed to harbor relationships, spark culinary innovation across our footprint, and create an environment of innovation and inclusivity.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt The Family Meal event in 2019, that meant coming together around a crowded table (and a crowded kitchen) to share recipes, techniques, and warm memories. \u003c/p\u003e","image":"4518479456.png","sortOrder":3,"active":true}
{"id":43,"firstName":"Chef Engagement","lastName":"Events","combinedName":"Chef Engagement Events","title":"Virtual Food Show","company":"October, 2020","location":"Chefs Across Our Footprint Virtually Gather","bio":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt goes without saying that COVID caused pivoting across our business, the industry, and the world. This event \u003cspan\u003emarked the beginning of countless opportunities to spark those authentic Parkhurst relationships, using innovative ways to bridge gaps between state lines and state (safety) guidelines. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe highlight of the event was undeniably the chance for Parkhurst chefs to interface with some new and longstanding vendors. In turn, these vendors were able to highlight their products and share their stories. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere\u0027s \u003ca href=\"https://www.inharvest.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIn Harvest\u003c/a\u003e talking to chefs about their suite of Allergen free grain products. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","image":"50137401410.png","sortOrder":4,"active":true}
{"id":44,"firstName":"Chef Engagement","lastName":"Events","combinedName":"Chef Engagement Events","title":"Virtual Food Show","company":"October, 2020","location":"Chefs Across Our Footprint Virtually Gather","bio":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChefs and culinarians attended this food show to discuss and share ideas around a variety of topics, ranging from current trends to challenges related to COVID-19 restrictions. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.righteousfelon.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRighteos Felons Beef Jerky \u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003etook the chance to highlight their unique product. During the process of making Jerky, some pieces are too small to be included in their retail bag, so they spoke to chefs about ways to incorporate their new Ends \u0026 Pieces product into recipes to truly elevate dishes (and avoid waste!). \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","image":"188227830412.png","sortOrder":5,"active":true}
{"id":45,"firstName":"Chef Engagement","lastName":"Events","combinedName":"Chef Engagement Events","title":"Virtual Food Show","company":"October, 2020","location":"Chefs Across Our Footprint Virtually Gather","bio":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://goatrodeocheese.com/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGoat Rodeo\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an artisan goat cheese producer and one of our \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.parkhurstdining.com/know-your-source/farmsource\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFarmSource\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e partners based just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. They’re eager to expand their footprint, so this mutually beneficial gathering allowed them to reach Parkhurst chefs from all over the region, as well as pique our culinarians’ interests in the unique goat cheese goods available to them.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","image":"146652551311.png","sortOrder":6,"active":true}
{"id":46,"firstName":"Chef Engagement","lastName":"Events","combinedName":"Chef Engagement Events","title":"Supporting Sustainability in our Gold Standards","company":"March 2021","location":"Chefs Across Our Footprint Virtually Gather","bio":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eFor our first Culinary Engagement event of 2021, Parkhurst Director of Sourcing and Sustainability Jamie Moore lined up an interactive hour packed to the brim with information, all tied back to our Culinary Gold Standards. While responsible sourcing \u0026 sustainability have a hand in \u003cem\u003eeverything\u003c/em\u003e we do, in particular, ‘We Always Serve Fresh Cage-Free, Shelled Eggs‘ and ‘When Possible, We Follow Recommendations of Sustainable Seafood Organizations‘ were the pride points of focus, as the culinary leaders of Parkhurst Dining got to enjoy a virtual tour of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kreiderfarms.com/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKreider Farms\u003c/a\u003e and learn about Sustainable Seafood from the \u003ca href=\"https://www.gmri.org/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGulf of Maine Research Institute.\u003c/a\u003e \u003c/p\u003e","image":"91664291113.png","sortOrder":7,"active":true}
{"id":47,"firstName":"Chef Engagement","lastName":"Events","combinedName":"Chef Engagement Events","title":"Supporting Sustainability in our Gold Standards","company":"March 2021","location":"Chefs Across Our Footprint Virtually Gather","bio":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eOur \u003ca href=\"https://www.une.edu/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eUniversity of New England \u003c/a\u003eDining Team is proud to say that 100% of their seafood comes from a single partner, \u003ca href=\"https://www.pjmerrillseafood.com/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePJ Merrill Seafood\u003c/a\u003e, and is verified by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s (GMRI) Responsibly Harvested Program, meaning it meets all important criteria around sustainability and traceability.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSophie of GMRI outlined this Responsibly Harvested Program, discussed fishery regulations – what they catch and how they catch it – and sparked interactive brainstorm sessions around creative solutions for Parkhurst chefs to get involved in sustainable seafood efforts. This could include adding underutilized fish to the menu, like mackerel and pollock, to simply building relationships in their communities and identifying local seafood options available to them.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","image":"152874555814.png","sortOrder":8,"active":true}