Ago —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
Cutino, co-founder of the Sardine Factory restaurant in Monterey, Calif., will be honored May 19 during the MenuMasters Awards ceremony at the Drake Hotel here. MenuMasters winners in a range of other special culinary categories also will be recognized during the ceremony. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
Sponsored by Ventura Foods LLC, the MenuMasters Awards program honors companies and individuals for outstanding contributions to foodservice research and development and menu design. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
“This year we’re celebrating 10 years of MenuMasters and 10 extraordinary Hall of Fame members, with Bert Cutino as the newest addition,” said NRN publisher Alan Gould. “In honoring Bert, we are privileged to celebrate the life of one of the most respected and beloved culinarians in foodservice.” —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
As the 2007 Hall of Fame inductee, Cutino joins a select group, which includes the late Warren Leruth, Richard Melman, chef Jacques Pépin, chef Paul Prudhomme, David Overton, the late Harland Sanders, chef Jasper White, chef Martin Yan and chef Emeril Lagasse. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
“Not only is Bert Cutino a remarkable chef, but he is one of the most generous individuals in our industry,” said B. Kelly Brintle, senior vice president of corporate strategy and business development for Ventura Foods. “As co-founder of the Sardine Factory and a man with passion for cooking, he is a tremendous role model for anyone considering a career in foodservice. Ventura Foods is pleased to join with Nation’s Restaurant News in recognizing his achievements and honoring him as the 2007 MenuMasters Hall of Fame inductee.” —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
Born in Carmel, Calif., Cutino grew up around Cannery Row when it was the “Sardine Capital of the World.” He attended local schools and graduated from Monterey Union High School in 1957. After deciding he did not want to follow his father into commercial fishing, he attended Monterey Peninsula College, graduating with a degree in business in 1964. He later was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award by the California Association of Colleges. In 1988 he received the degree of Doctor of Culinary Arts, Honoris Causa, from Johnson & Wales University. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
Cutino started his career in the hospitality industry at the age of 13, and he has worked in virtually all capacities, from dishwasher to chef, executive chef, manager and owner. He was in charge of a full-scale restaurant operation at the age of 19 and eventually became co-founder of four award-winning restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
In 1968, Cutino and his partner, Ted Balestreri, opened the Sardine Factory in an old cannery worker’s canteen in Monterey. The location and historical significance of Monterey, and more particularly Cannery Row—made famous by American literary giant John Steinbeck—provided the duo with the springboard for their menu and decor. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
Due in large part to Cutino’s culinary efforts, the restaurant has gained national recognition and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including induction into the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame in 1981. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
Cutino also has received many awards during his career. Last year he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Chefs. From 1995 to 1999, he was chairman of the AAC, which is the honor society of the American Culinary Federation. He was part of the Culinary Olympics in 1988 and 1992. He was recognized by Nations Restaurant News in 1997 as one of “The NRN 50: The New Players.” In 2003, he was honored with the IFMA Silver Plate Award for Independent Restaurants. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
MenuMasters Hall of Fame inductees are selected annually by NRN’s editorial board. —Nation’s Restaurant News kicked off the 10th year of its celebrated MenuMasters Awards program by selecting renowned chef Bert Cutino as the 2007 inductee into its MenuMasters Hall of Fame.
