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Memorandum March 20, 2023

Dear AU Community,We are excited to welcome internationally celebrated Chef Jet Tila to campus on Thursday, March 30 for a day of special events for the community. Here’s what will be happening – and the whole AU community is welcome!

  • Teaching Kitchen on the Quad. Chef Tila will be in action from 12-1 p.m. in front of Mary Graydon Center (MGC), where he’ll host a teaching kitchen. Rain site: MGC first floor, to right of the entrance.
  • Paper Lantern Special Menu. Tasty dishes inspired by Chef Tila will be on the menu from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Paper Lantern in MGC.
  • TDR Takeover. Chef Tila moves downstairs from 5-7 p.m. to our Terrace Dining Room (TDR). TDR stations will feature choices from Chef Tila, and he’ll greet community members at each station as he explains the different dishes.

To ensure that these events benefit and support our entire community, five percent of all sales at TDR and Paper Lantern – cash, credit, and Eaglebucks – will be donated to food insecurity initiatives on campus by our Chartwells partners and the Dining Program. In addition, all meal swipes in TDR and Paper Lantern during the events will be matched by the Dining Program and Chartwells and proceeds donated to the Eagles Helping Eagles program.Chef Tila is an Emmy and James Beard Award nominee, as well as a best-selling author. A born educator and storyteller, Chef Tila was appointed as the inaugural Culinary Ambassador of Thai Cuisine by the Royal Thai Consulate. His culinary endeavors include multiple appearances on Iron Chef America, Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and Guy’s Grocery Games, as well as Today, MasterChef, and Rachel Ray. He is the VP Culinary of Pei Wei Group and Managing Partner of Dragon Tiger Noodle Co in Las Vegas. Chef Tila holds six culinary Guinness World Records and has partnerships with Compass Group, Schwan’s, and NBC Universal/DreamWorks.

These special events are coming to campus thanks to partnerships between the Dining Program, Chartwells Higher Education, Office of Campus Life, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Office of the Provost, and numerous student organizations.We hope you can join us on March 30 for some great food, culinary learning, and community fun!Sincerely,

Bronté Burleigh-Jones

Bronté Burleigh-Jones 
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, and Treasurer

Sarah Baldassaro
Interim Vice President Student Affairs