San Francisco, California - March 14, 2003 - Five San Francisco Bay Area food industry professionals were awarded for demonstrating outstanding community service Monday at the Restaurant Summit 2003, co-hosted by Susie Biehler & CO and the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. The awards were presented by the San Francisco Food Bank in partnership with Susie Biehler & CO and were sponsored by VISA.

Nominated by nonprofit agencies and peers in the restaurant and hospitality industry, the award recipients were selected by a panel of food professionals and nonprofit leaders, including: Paul Ash, executive director, San Francisco Food Bank; Rachel Ehrlich, MSW, service learning coordinator, The Urban School of San Francisco; John Power, executive director, The Volunteer Center of San Francisco; Mary Risley, founder, Food Runners and director, Tante Marie’s Cooking School; and Judy Woods, food program director & volunteer coordinator, Haight Ashbury Food Program.

Susie Biehler initiated the awards program three years ago and approached the San Francisco Food Bank to help recognize the outstanding humanitarians in the restaurant industry. “Restaurateurs work so hard and give back so much to local charities,” said Biehler. “You can never say ‘thank you’ enough and it's a pleasure to recognize a few of those who go above and beyond the call of duty.”

“We are blessed with the opportunity to make choices everyday that can impact the world in a positive way,” said Chef Traci Des Jardins, winner of the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award. “We have chances as business people, to make this world a better place for our children and our neighbors’ children.”

“By donating their time and resources to our ‘foodraising’ and fundraising efforts, individual chefs, restaurants and the local food industry have been key to our success as the largest distributor of food to low-income families and individuals in San Francisco,” said Paul Ash, executive director of the San Francisco Food Bank.

The award recipients are as follows:

Meme Pederson, Taste Catering – Outstanding Contribution to a Social Cause in 2002 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Meme was rewarded for her tireless effort and countless hours volunteered to the AIDS Memorial Grove and the SF AIDS Foundation, as well as sitting on the board of directors for Meals on Wheels and the Academy of Friends.

Joyce Goldstein – Outstanding Contribution to the Fight Against Hunger in 2002 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Joyce was honored for her work in volunteering to coordinate and organize the San Francisco Food Bank’s 15th anniversary, which raised more than $150,000 for the Food Bank, and facilitated the opening of three new pantries to increase neighborhood access to the hungry in the City.

Staffan Terje, Scala's Bistro – Unsung Hero Award for Outstanding Personal Commitment toward a Social Cause in the San Francisco Bay Area. Staffan was singled out for his charitable endeavors with Oziku! Camp Classics!—where he hosts menu tasting with kids and raised $15,000 for children afflicted with cancer—as well as for his work with S.O.S./Taste and Meals on Wheels.

Beth Casey, Bubba's Diner – Unsung Hero Award for Outstanding Personal Commitment toward a Social Cause in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a leader and “cheerleader” of the food community in San Anselmo, Beth has for years hosted community events—whether to feed the hungry, expand the horizons of elementary school kids, mentor high school students, or beautify the downtown area—and demonstrated to the entire community how to take that spirit of involvement into the outside world.

Traci Des Jardins, Chef/owner Jardinière Restaurant, Managing Chef Acme Chophouse – Outstanding Lifetime Achievement to a Social Cause in the San Francisco Bay Area. Among her numerous achievements, Traci has worked to promote sustainable agriculture and highlight the importance of family farmers, ranchers and fishermen, her efforts benefiting myriad local food organizations. With Jardinière’s 15th anniversary, Traci raised more than $16,000 for California family farms through Farm Aid. She hosts ESL classes for her Spanish-speaking staff and has opened the Jardinière Foundation to match funds with employees to donate to charitable causes.