Chef Norman Van Aken -silver Star Restauranter Honoree 5.1.12 ,tuyo, Miami Culinary Institute

NEWH South Florida, the Hospitality Networking Organization, inducts Chef Norman Van Aken, 'Founder of New World Cuisine', as their SILVER STAR RESTAURANTEUR at their annual Hospitality Scholarship Dinner, held at Tuyo, the crowning jewel of the Miami Culinary Institute, Miami Dade College Downtown Campus. This award is presented to individuals in south Florida with over 25 years as exemplary Leaders in the Hospitality Industry in their selected field. Chef Van Aken is a James Beard Inductee and long time international celebrity.

After a cocktail reception, Chef John Richards, MCI Director, presented to the select group of guests, Skyping in from Barcelona, Spain, where he was touring with his Culinary students. The Food and Wine Theater is a state of the art feature in this new, architecturally outstanding facility. They maintain their own garden. The guests dined in Tuyo Restaurant, on the top floor of MCI, with fire wall and panoramic view of Biscayne Bay and Miami. Closed for this private function, the guests were greeted by Chef Norman Van Aken, Director, and savored a special menu designed for them.

Six hospitality students received scholarships from NEWH, an international organization all about hospitality, networking and education. $10,000.00 total went to two Culinary, two Hospitality Management, and two Interior Design student recipients from several South Florida Schools. Dawn Starling, President of Starling & Associates, Hospitality Resort Design Specialist and SILVER STAR DESIGNER Honoree said, "We are honored and here to celebrate the future stars."

The Miami Herald called Tuyo a 'unique & excellent new institute of higher dining'.