Thank you Chef Kevin Binkley
This whole experience started in June 2014 on a Thursday night at Arizona Culinary Institute. The stars aligned for what was a spectacular food and wine event to benefit military students. A small army of ACI students and alumni directed by Chef Kevin Binkley coordinated by Executive Chef Christopher Wolf and wines presented wine maker Eric Glomski made for a spectacular event. What some people don’t realize is that there was an agreement between Chef Wolf and Chef Binkley.
The agreement was that if Chef Binkley did the ACI event Chef Wolf would do an event at Binkley’s.
Fast forward to Wednesday September 10, 2014 Chef Wolf repays the favor. As a chef it is very hard to sit and have dinner and not be included in the inter-workings of the event. However Chef Wolf once again assembled an army of current students and alumni to help with the event.
I arrived at Binkley’s with my lovely wife and was greeted by Amy Binkley who was a gracious hostess; you could tell that the service staff was definitely ready and excited for the event. After a quick tour of the kitchen and greeting the Chef’s and the ACI students we were seated. What happened next was a truly awesome experience and this is coming from a Chef/Culinary School president who can also be highly critical. Without going through the details of each dish we were presented with an array of Amuse’ and food courses over the next two and a half hours. Each one being distinctively different in presentation, taste and texture but yet seemed to complement each other. I can honestly say that I was impressed not only by food but by the service as well. Not often enough do the service staff get praise but each person that came in contact with our table were highly knowledgeable in what was being presented to us.Thank you to Chef Kevin Binkley and his wife Amy for setting the bar high.
I would like to thank ACI’s Executive Chef Christopher Wolf for his passion, dedication and all of his hard work in making these two events happens. As I looked around the kitchen I counted a total of 9 ACI students/alumni some of which are employed in the Binkley’s restaurants. I am also very proud of their passion and choosing ACI for their culinary training. I also counted about 6 ACI alumni who were also having dinner showing their support for Chef Wolf, Thank you.
A special thank you to Chef Kevin Binkley his wife Amy Binkley, Binkley’s kitchen and service staff and volunteers that made these events happen. Thank you for supporting Arizona Culinary Institute.
Robert E. Wilson
President and Co/Founder
Arizona Culinary Institute
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