First Lady Invites Bertucci's Chef Stefano Cordova to Kick-Off 'Chefs Move To Schools' Program for Solving Childhood Obesity

BOSTON, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Northborough, MA-based Bertucci’s Corporation announced today that it’s own Chef Stefano Cordova has been chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama to participate in her “Chefs Move To Schools” program that calls on the nation’s chefs to adopt a school, work with teachers, parents, school nutritionists and administrators to help educate kids about food and nutrition. Chef Stefano, along with 299 other national chefs, has traveled to the White House for today’s official kick-off. “Chefs Move To Schools” is part of Mrs. Obama’s larger initiative of ‘Let’s Move!’ to solve the childhood obesity epidemic.

“I am honored to participate and represent the Bertucci’s kitchen in the First Lady’s 'Let’s Move!' campaign along with others in my field from across the country. I have always been an advocate for healthy, fresh and smarter ingredients in preparing dishes for our guests – especially children,” said Chef Stefano Cordova, Vice President and Executive Chef for Bertucci’s Italian Restaurants. “We are excited to adopt a local school where we’ll put the First Lady’s plan in motion to create healthy dishes incorporating tastes children love. Our whole wheat pizza and multigrain pasta are popular with families in our restaurants.”

The “Chefs Move to Schools” program, run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will pair chefs with interested schools in their communities so together they can create healthy meals that meet the schools' dietary guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices.  With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more important than ever.

About Chef Stefano Cordova

Born in Rome, Chef Stefano has been with Bertucci’s since 2004. The Chef aficionado, who honed his culinary skills at the finest restaurants in Italy and New York, has elevated the Italian dining experience at Bertucci’s. As Executive Chef, he has introduced authentic Italian recipes from different Italian regions, created special seasonal entrées and trained Bertucci’s employees about authentic Italian culture and cuisine. Chef Stefano travels to Italy several times a year to continue his education on the history of Italian cooking, as well as the latest trends and ingredients.  He is also directly involved in overseeing quality assurance of food products and internal and external communications. During the course of his career, Chef Stefano has developed balanced and nutritional food programs for Boston Public Schools and Rockefeller University in New York. Chef Stefano has won numerous awards including the Top Italian Chef in the USA and the Top Italian Chef outside Italy by the Italian Chef Federation.

About Bertucci’s:

Since 1981, Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant^® has served customers with genuineness and warmth. With its distinctive, flavorful Italian food and signature brick oven pizza, Bertucci’s serves as a favorite Italian restaurant for many. Today, Bertucci’s operates over 90 locations in 10 states and the District of Columbia. In every single restaurant, Bertucci’s maintains the same rigorous, high-quality standards and principles the company was founded on. Honesty and passion are still at the heart of every Bertucci's meal. Bertucci’s continues to develop innovative recipes and use fresh ingredients to craft distinctively delicious Italian meals using simple, time-honored Italian recipes. For more information visit www.bertuccis.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bertuccis-Italian-Restaurant/89018083259?ref=ts

SOURCE Bertucci's