The Golden Tier Awards!

Last weekend, Chef Nicholas and Scott were up in New York City for the NY Cake Show, the Golden Tier Awards, and a Renshaw Difference demo at the Chefs Warehouse. Oh, and it was Chef Nicholas' birthday too! It was a big weekend. Even BIGGER and BETTER because Chef Nicholas was nominated for one of the inaugural Golden Tier Awards: The Albert Kumin Educator of the Year Award!

These First Annual Golden Tier Awards were presented by American Cake Decorating and Lisa Mansour of New York Cake. The Golden Tier Awards are very special because it is the first ever American-hosted, international award ceremony to honor pastry chef, cake and sugar artists, chocolatiers, dessert professionals, instructors, writers and authors, as well as retailers! The purpose of the Golden Tier Awards to honor and celebrate the very best that the dessert industry has to offer. The nominees and winners have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, superior accomplishments, deliver exceptional results, and have a lasting impact on the our industry. It was held in conjunction with the NY Cake Show. The event was a success! The awards ceremony was sold out, and there were hundreds of people there!

After spending the day judging at the New York Cake Show, Chef Nicholas, Scott, and all the other cake artists returned to their hotel rooms to don their stylish gowns and suits for the first ever Golden Tier Awards! The event kicked off with a cocktail reception where the judges and nominees could mix and mingle together while enjoying fabulous drinks and hors d'oeuvres. The formal award ceremony began at 8pm, and there were many categories: Cake Artist of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Educator of the Year, Spence Award for Excellence in Royal Icing, Collaboration of the Year, Bakery of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Outstanding Product of the Year, Best Design Blog of the Year, Master Chocolatier of the Year, ACD People's Choice of the Year, and the Mansour Lifetime Achievement Award!

The judging panel for these awards was outstanding- a veritable list of super stars: Ron Ben Israel, Kerry Vincent, Nicholas Lodge (yes, our Nicholas Lodge!), Sylvia Weinstock, Mike McCarey, Eddie Spence, Collette Peters, Thomas Vaccara, Jacques Torres, Jacquy Pfeiffer,  Laurent Tourondel, Nick Malgieri, Susan Notter, Francois Payard, and Biaggio Settepani! 

Chef Nicholas and fellow judge, and longtime friend, Ron Ben Israel.

Chef Nicholas has said many times over the years that teaching is his passion. Sharing his skills with students brings him the most joy. When Chef Nicholas was notified that he was a nominee for the Albert Kumin Educator of the Year award he was incredibly honored. I know that on Saturday night I was on pins and needles waiting for Chef Nicholas or Scott to text me the results! Chef Nick Malgieri had the honor of announcing the winner of the Albert Kumin Educator of the Year Award. At 9:22pm Chef Nicholas texted me that he had won!!! I was beyond excited, so I can't even to begin to imagine how happy Chef Nicholas was to receive the big prize!! Yay! Scott quickly sent some photos of Chef Nicholas and his award, and I was able to share them on his facebook page. Chef Nicholas does everything for his students, and winning this award was a manifestation of that dedication. 

This year, July 17, 2017, marks ISAC's 25th Anniversary (which I have been talking about for months), and I think this award, Educator of the Year, really reinforces what ISAC is all about. Chef Nicholas and Scott opened ISAC to teach students from all over the world. Chef Nicholas has been in this industry for over 35 years, taught in over 35 countries throughout the world, has eleven Craftsy classes (more than any other instructor), and has had his own school for 25 years (not to mention ISAC's sister school in Tokyo, Japan). Chef Nicholas was born to teach cake artistry and share it with the world. 

Congratulations Chef Nicholas, Educator of the Year. You deserve it, you really do. 

ISAC 25th Anniversary Fun Fact: In 2002 Chef Nicholas participates for the first time in the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, serving "Autumn Pumpkin Spice Cake with Grand Mariner Cream Cheese Icing," to an anxious crowd.

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie

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WINNER of the 2017 Golden Tier Educator of the Year Award

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award.