Enhance Your Iowa Plate Conference

11/1/09

Contacts:
Jean Anderson, Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515) 294-7316
Erica Beirman, Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515) 294-4361
Breanna Wetzler, Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515) 294-3011

TAKE A CULINARY TOUR OF IOWA: IOWA STATE WORKSHOP DESIGNED TO EXPLORE THE SCIENCE OF CULINARY CREATIONS

AMES, Iowa — Explore the science of culinary creations and take a “Culinary Tour of Iowa”. If you want to increase your culinary and nutrition skills, be sure to attend the annual “Enhance Your Iowa Plate” workshop at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa June 10-11, 2010.

Participants will begin their tour working in the “chef’s kitchen” with live demonstrations and personal instruction from ISU Dining’s professionally trained chefs. Get hands-on culinary experiences while practicing proper food safety and cooking techniques, knife skills and fresh fruit and vegetable preparation. The two-day conference will culminate with a summer picnic—featuring Iowa foods prepared by the participants.

“Today’s dietitians and educators are more interested than ever in expanding their culinary skills, while staying up-to-date on the latest health and nutrition trends.” said Jean Anderson, senior clinician in Iowa State’s food science and human nutrition department. “This workshop allows us to blend two key areas of interest: nutrition and food. Participants will learn new tricks to provide quick, nutritious, tasty meals for family and friends.”

The Culinary Tour of Iowa will continue as participants are immersed in Iowa’s bountiful fresh produce with a visit to the West Des Moines Farmers’ Market. Participants will purchase produce at the market that they’ll learn to prepare with the help of the chefs on the second day of the conference. “This conference will offer participants a unique opportunity to learn from ISU Dining’s professionally trained chefs,” said Erica Beirman, Iowa State’s culinary science coordinator.

Stewart Burger, Coordinator of Special Events at the Knoll at ISU, will host a Pre-conference event:”Iowa Made”. This event will celebrate a selection of Iowa’s finest wines, spirits, beers and artisan cheeses on June 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Burger will share his knowledge of this emerging industry through a sampling of food and wine pairings certain to delight the palate. The Pre-Conference event is an additional $40.

Register online now at: www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/plate. Workshop seating is limited to the first 50 people who register. Early-bird registration, before April 30th, 2010 is $149. After that, registration for the two-day conference is $199. Registration includes a continental breakfast and lunch both days of the conference. Registrants also can opt to attend the Preconference, Iowa’s finest wines, spirits and beers on June 9, 2010 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for an additional $40.

Registered dietitians can receive 12 continuing professional education units by attending the conference. All participants will receive a certificate of completion and a collection of recipes.

Increasing consumer interest in health and nutrition led to the development of the new culinary sciences major, and the same is true for the workshop. Beirman coordinates Iowa State’s new undergraduate degree program in culinary science, which began in the fall of 2008. The program blends food science and technology with creative aspects of food preparation. Its academic home is the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, which is co-located in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Human Sciences.

More conference details and online registration is available at www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/plate.