Hyde Park, NY – Ellen
Yin, founder and co-owner of Philadelphia’s High Street Hospitality Group,
spoke to graduates at the New York campus of The Culinary
Institute of America on February 8.
Ms. Yin is credited with playing a key role in elevating her
city’s dining scene. Her company operates three noteworthy Philadelphia
restaurants: Fork, High Street on Market, and a.kitchen a.bar. All earned “Three Bells: Excellent” reviews
from Craig LaBan in the Philadelphia Inquirer. In 2015, her empire expanded to New York
City with High Street on Hudson.
“Being a chef also means being a leader,” Yin told graduates.
“Leadership takes time to develop and it may not be inherent in everyone, but
it can be practiced and taught. It means maintaining professionalism at all
times, having self-confidence to know what is right and wrong, not giving up
when things are difficult, and pushing through. Conviction,
tenacity, integrity.”
Ms. Yin was a finalist for the James Beard Foundation Award
for Outstanding Restaurateur in 2018. Earlier this year, she was honored by the
Philadelphia chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International. High Street on Market was named the Best New Restaurant in
America by Travel + Leisure in 2015
and was second on Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurants list. It was
also named the Inquirer’s 2014
Restaurant of the Year. Condé Nast
Traveler recently named Fork among the Best Restaurants in Philadelphia and
High Street on Market one of the Best Brunches in the city.
The author of Forklore: Recipes and
Tales from an American Bistro, Ellen Yin holds an MBA from the Wharton
School at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of Women in
Hospitality United.
The entire CIA commencement ceremony, including Ms. Yin’s address
to recipients of associate degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking
& Pastry Arts, can be seen online.
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:
Ellen Yin, founder and co-owner of the Philadelphia-based
High Street Hospitality Group, speaks to graduates of The Culinary Institute of
America at the college’s New York campus on February 8, 2019. (Photo credit: CIA/Phil Mansfield)
View hi-res image >
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Writer
845-451-1372
Jeff.Levine@culinary.edu
About The Culinary Institute of America:
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking & pastry arts, food business management, hospitality management, culinary science, and applied food studies. The college also offers executive education, certificate programs, and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network of more than 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food world. The CIA has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.
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