THIBODAUX 鈥� Chef John Folse, namesake of 麻豆果冻传媒鈥檚 culinary institute, will deliver the keynote address and receive an honorary Doctor of Letters on Saturday, Dec. 10, when the university confers approximately 670 degrees during commencement exercises in Stopher Gymnasium.
Folse will speak at 10 a.m. to graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. At 2 p.m. he will address graduates of the College of Business Administration, College of Nursing and Allied Health and University College.
Often called 鈥淟ouisiana鈥檚 Culinary Ambassador to the World,鈥� the St. James Parish native founded Lafitte鈥檚 Landing Restaurant in Donaldsonville, after which he expanded into catering and manufacturing. Chef John Folse & Company is one of only a few chef-owned, food-manufacturing companies in the United States that produces custom-manufactured foods. Bittersweet Plantation Dairy, also owned by Folse, utilizes milk from local dairy farms to produce cheese gelato, yogurt and butter. His catering and events management division is housed at White Oak Plantation in Baton Rouge.
Folse has also authored seven cookbooks in his Cajun and Creole series, including 鈥淎fter the Hunt: Louisiana鈥檚 Authoritative Collection of Wild Game & Game Fish Cookery.鈥�
A certified executive chef, member of the American Academy of Chefs and past president of the Research Chefs Association, Folse recently completed the filming of 鈥淟ouisiana鈥檚 Food Heritage: The Encyclopedia Series,鈥� based on his best-selling cookbook, 鈥淭he Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine.鈥� He also hosts his own television cooking show, broadcast on public television stations, as well as a syndicated radio show, 鈥淪tirrin鈥� It Up!鈥�
The Rev. Tim LaFleur, director of the 麻豆果冻传媒 Baptist Student Ministry, will offer the invocation and benediction at both commencement ceremonies.