USA Unveils Culinary "Dream Team" for Next World's Fair

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Friends of the USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 are proud to announce that the United States will be represented by an unprecedented "dream team" of culinary talent at the upcoming world's fair set to kick off in Milan later this year. From Tom Colicchio and Mario Batali to Cesare Casella, Luke Holden and David Chang, the 19 chef advisory board members and 12 additional participating chefs announced today form an awe-inspiring collection of American skill – a who's-who of culinary talent who will serve as powerful cultural ambassadors of the United States to the world.

"This is really an unbelievable line-up, and it's only the start," said USA Pavilion Chief Creative Officer and James Beard Foundation Executive Vice President Mitchell Davis today on the sidelines of the New York Times Travel Show. "In keeping with the model set by the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team in 1992, our goal as organizers of the USA Pavilion at Expo Milano is to bring together the very best that America has to offer the world. We aim to excite, delight and inspire and I think we're well on our way to doing that. We can't wait to give the world a taste of American Food 2.0."

Those participating chefs announced today include:

USA Pavilion Advisory Board members and featured James Beard American Restaurant chefs:

• Cesare Casella, Salumeria Rosi and Dean, International Culinary Center
• Tom Colicchio, Craft Restaurants and Top Chef

USA Pavilion Chef Advisory Board members:

• José Andrés, Jaleo and Dean, International Culinary Center
• Dan Barber, Blue Hill
• Lidia Bastianich, Felidia
• Mario Batali, Babbo
• Rick Bayless, Topolobampo
• David Chang, Momofuku
• Tony May, SD26
• Mary Sue Milliken, Border Grill
• Jacques Pépin, Dean, International Culinary Center

USA Pavilion Food Truck Advisory Board members:

• Tyler Florence, Great Food Truck Race
• Matthew Geller, National Food Truck Association
• Luke Holden, Luke's Lobster
• Jordyn Lexton, Snowday Truck
• Zeina Muna, Director, Vendy Awards
• Ross Resnick, Roaming Hunger
• David Weber, NYC Food Truck Association
• Jeffrey Zurofsky, `wichcraft

And the first wave of featured chefs at the James Beard American Restaurant:

• Hugh Acheson, 5 & 10
• Rick Bayless, Topolobampo
• John Besh, August
• Cristeta Comerford, White House Executive Chef
• Duff Goldman, Charm City Cakes
• Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, Eleven Madison Park
• David Kinch, Manresa
• Barbara Lynch, No. 9 Park
• Mary Sue Milliken and Traci des Jardins, Border Grill/Jardinière
• Marc Murphy, Landmarc
• Naomi Pomeroy, Beast
• Norman Van Aken, Norman's 

"This list of partnering chefs will continue to expand as we get nearer to the Expo," added Davis.

Expo Milano 2015 is expected to attract 20-30 million visitors from around the world from May through October 2015. Under the theme of "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life," it will convene a cross-section of the world's most prominent figures in food from more than 170 participating countries to celebrate, debate and identify solutions to improve the global food system. 

With the theme "American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet," the USA Pavilion will showcase American innovation in addressing global food issues through a variety of exhibits and events during the six-month-long world's fair.

About Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015

Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a collaboration between the James Beard Foundation (JBF) and the International Culinary Center (ICC), in association with the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy, whose mission is to conceive, design, fundraise for, and produce the USA Pavilion and programs at Expo Milano 2015 under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State. Current partners include GE, NUSSLI, Uvet, Brand USA, Microsoft, DuPont, Boeing, illy, 3M, FleishmanHillard and Research Frontiers.

The pavilion's management and program is directed by President Dorothy Hamilton (founder and CEO of ICC), CEO Charlie Faas, and Chief Creative Officer Mitchell Davis (EVP of JBF). Biber Architects has been selected to design the USA Pavilion, and Thinc Design is serving as USA Pavilion exhibition designer. Under the overall direction of the U.S. Department of State and leadership of Commissioner General Doug Hickey, the Friends organization will oversee every aspect of the project in consultation with a team of experts across the science, business, technology, agriculture, sustainability, design and other fields.

For more information, visit: http://www.usapavilion2015.net/ and http://en.expo2015.org/.

SOURCE Friends of the USA Pavilion Milano 2015