Ivy Tech Community College program chair inducted into prestigious French cuisine society

Ivy Tech Community College Hospitality Administration Program Chair Jeff Bricker has been inducted into International Disciples of Escoffier. He was honored during a recent trip to the birthplace and museum of Chef Auguste Escoffier in Villeneuve-Loubet, France. 

The Disciples Escoffier International is the premier gastronomic society established in France to maintain the good name and traditions of French cuisine. The goals of the society are to honor the memory of Escoffier, promoting and preserving his work and maintaining the great culinary traditions, as well as promoting culinary education and apprenticeship encouraging young people to discover the desire and motivation to work as a professional chef. There are 35,000 members worldwide.

“Auguste Escoffier inspires me as a chef to the pursuit of excellence. His accomplishments and contributions to modern cuisine form the foundation for all that I know and hope to accomplish in my culinary career,” said Bricker. “From the simplification and organization of classical French cuisine to the structure of the kitchen brigade, I find the common thread of excellence fueled with Escoffier’s deep passion that lives on in our culinary profession.”

In regard to what it means to the Hospitality-Culinary program at Ivy Tech Community College, Chef Bricker said "it shows that the faculty are professionals that are recognized for their knowledge, skills, experience and commitment to furthering culinary education in our community. Industry based certifications and designations such as this speak to the quality of faculty through external validation and provide evidence that the program is truly a center of excellence for hospitality-culinary training in Central Indiana."

Chef Bricker has served as chair for Ivy Tech’s Hospitality Administration program, which has 800 students, since 2004. He completed his own culinary arts training at Ivy Tech, participating as a student in a summer intensive Classical French Cooking program from l’Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Burgundy, France under the direction of Chef/Author Anne Willan. He is a member of the Greater Indianapolis Chapter of The American Culinary Federation and a Certified Executive Chef and Certified Culinary Educator. He serves as a board member of the ACF Greater Indianapolis Chapter and is an Approved Lead Culinary Evaluator for professional certification exams for chefs. He is the founder and owner of Chef Bricker’s Brick House Vinaigrettes.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system.  Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

Learn more about Ivy Tech at IvyTech.Edu.