Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the world’s premier gourmet society, has decided to relocate its United States headquarters to the College at Florham. The group will provide $400,000 to help fund the construction of a new, 6,000-square-foot building that will house the headquarters as well as the University’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management.

The site of the building will be the old career center near the library, which is slated for demolition. The University is working to get the necessary township approval from Florham Park, and construction could begin in February or March. The building should be complete between July 1 and September 1.

With its international home in Paris, Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs has nearly 20,000 members in more than 100 countries. In the United States, there are more than 7,000 members with 150 chapters across the country. Devoted to promoting fine dining, the nonprofit society is based on the traditions and practices of the old French royal guild of goose roasters. Its history has been traced back to the year 1248.

President J. Michael Adams, a member of the organization, said, “Chaîne is thrilled with the association and a location in an elegant, academic environment. We are thrilled to forge an association with a true world-class organization and to gain a new building, which solves a major space dilemma.”

Adams pointed out that housing the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management in the new building is a “natural fit” and “provides an opportunity to enhance the reputation of the major.”

He added that every letter or announcement sent across the United States by Chaîne will read, “The Chaîne House, in residence at Fairleigh Dickinson University.”

Adams first became aware that the organization was interested in moving its national office last summer from an organization newsletter. He contacted the group’s chair, who sent a delegation to the campus and also visited himself and “fell in love” with the College at Florham.

Adams thanked Executive Vice President Carl Viola, Vice President for Administration Richard Riccio and College at Florham Interim Provost Kenneth Greene for playing key roles in the agreement.

In other related news, two members of Gourmet Dining, the University’s food service provider, were initiated into the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in November. Richard Wenskoski, left, campus food services manager (Flor), and Jeff Gourley, chef (Flor), received their crests at the induction ceremony. A framed crest also will be displayed at the entrance to the College at Florham dining center.

December 2002/
January 2003

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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