Riga, June 4, 2015 –American celebrity chef, Art Smith, will visit Riga, June 9-12. Oprah Winfrey’s former personal chef, Chef Smith will arrive from Expo Milano 2015, where he is representing the United States at the U.S. Pavilion. In Riga, Chef Smith will participate in various events, including leading a master class for Latvian chefs, working with school cafeteria chefs, and speaking at the TEDxRiga Conference at Splendid Palace on June 11.
On June 9, Chef Smith will lead a master class for school and pre-school cafeteria chefs on preparing delicious and healthy meals on a school budget. A panel of judges which include Minister of Healthcare Guntis Belēvičs, U.S. Chargè d’Affaires, a.i. Sharon Hudson-Dean, and primary school students, will taste and rate the food. The tasting will be followed with a public discussion with Chef Smith, Minister Belēvičs, representatives from the Ministries of Education and Science and Agriculture, leaders of NGO Parents for Education, and restaurateur Jānis Jenzis. Chef Smith will share his philosophy for finding practical solutions that ensure that children receive tasty, nutritious food with the creative use of available ingredients. Media are invited to cover the tasting and panel discussion which begins at 13:00. Interested journalists must apply no later than 15:00 on Monday, June 8 to be included in the event. To apply, please send an e-mail to millerei@state.gov and edijs.sauers@rsu.lv, with the media representative’s name, e-mail and represented outlet.
Chef Art Smith is the executive chef and co-owner of four restaurants, and an author of four award-winning cookbooks. His expertise is Southern cooking. Smith is the founder of Common Threads, a non-profit organization teaching low-income children to cook wholesome and affordable meals since 2003. In 1997-2007, Smith was the personal, day-to-day chef to Oprah Winfrey. Smith now coordinates and cooks for special events all around the world, regularly appearing on such TV programs as Iron Chef America, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
For further information, please contact the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy.
