Burt Cutino 2007 MenuMasters Hall of Fame

Seasons 52 honored for menuOrlando Business Journal - 3:56 PM EDT Monday, May 21, 2007

Nation's Restaurant News has named Seasons 52 Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Development Clifford Pleau as its MenuMasters Chef/Innovator for 2007.
The Seasons 52 restaurant concept, part of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI), is still in development. It focuses on fresh, healthy, seasonal menus with no entrees exceeding 475 calories. No sauces, fats or frying are used in menu preparation.

Now in its 10th year, the MenuMasters Awards celebrate excellence in food service research and development. Winners are selected by the editors of Nation's Restaurant News with input from a MenuMasters advisory board.

Other companies honored at the May 19 ceremonies in Chicago include: Captain D's Seafood, Chartwells School Dining Services, Dunkin' Donuts, Golden Corral, The Inn at Little Washington and Jack in the Box.

Bert Cutino, co-founder of the Sardine Factory Restaurant in Monterey, Calif., is the 2007 inductee to the MenuMasters Hall of Fame.

Born in Monterey, Chef Cutino is a Certified Executive Chef and Food Manager. He is the co-founder of the Sardine Factory. He has a degree in business and two Doctor of Culinary Arts in Honoris. He is the recipient of many recognition awards, including the Distinguished College Alumni Award, US Congressional Record, and local-regional-national Chef of the Year, Diplomat, from the California Culinary Academy. He has served on the CCA Board and continues as an advisor, and was part of the 1988 and 1992 Culinary Olympics.He has been awarded competition Gold Medals and recognized in many Halls of Fame. He has also been recognized by Nations Restaurant News as one of the "NRN Fifty" and "The New Players."

He is committed to the future of the hospitality industry through education, and has been Chairman of the American Academy of Chefs, The ACF Honor Society and serves as Chairman of the past Chairman's Council. He has served as Vice President of the American Culinary Federation, Inc., Director of the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque, Chairman of Distinguished Restaurants of North America, Co-founder of the ACF Chef & Child Foundation, and Chairman of the Antonin Carme Society. He has also served as the Local Bailli (President) and Conseiller des Professionnels National of the Chaine des Rotisseurs. Chef Cutino received the Chef Professionalism Award for the ACF Western Region, and was honored with the National Chefs Professionalism Award in 2001. In 2002 he was awarded the AAC Chairman's Medal and in 2003 was honored with the IFMA Silver Plate Award for Independent Restaurants. In 2005, Chef Cutino was bestowed with the honor of Les Disciples d'Escoffier by culinary society Les Amis d'Escoffier. He has appeared on many television and radio programs and is recognized in many publications, newspapers, and editions of Who's Who Worldwide. Chef Cutino is active in many charities. He was named "2002 Citizen of the Year" by the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. In 2005, Chef Cutino received the Distinguished Fellow Award in the Hospitality Industry from California State Monterey Bay. He was the first to be honored in this category. One charity close to his heart, and which he founded, is the Meals on Wheels Culinary Classique. This innovative fund raiser results in funds that provide meals for 40,000 people for at least six months, and his concept is now being used in other states by Meals on Wheels.