Ruffy Sulaiman, Hilton AmericasAt the age of 16, Ruffy Sulaiman left his native Lagos, Nigeria for England to pursue a career in the culinary arts. After five years of cooking in various restaurants he moved to Mayo, Ireland to work as chef apprentice at Belleek Castle Restaurant, which specialized in Provincial French cuisine.
In the early 1980s, Sulaiman left Europe and enrolled at the University of Houston to study Industrial distribution and Marketing. While attending college, he served as the chef de cuisine for the Marker Restaurant at the Adams Mark Hotel, eventually moving up the ranks to the executive sous chef position.
Sulaiman enjoys his role at Houston's largest hotel, where he currently oversees the food operations of the banquet department. His skill in preparing American and International cuisine helps him create dynamic, inventive dishes with global influences. Chef Ruffy joined the Chefs Advisory board in 2008 after we held our Blue Plate Special Lunch with Dr. Oz at his hotel. Now you will never see him miss a month with the kids and he often joins us for special events.
2018 Chef of the Year
Kevin Naderi, Roost
Chefs Advisory Board
Beginning in the late 1990's Chef Monica Pope joined in Gracie's efforts to establish a group of concerned chefs who were willing to get involved in a hands on way to teach kids to cook. Twenty-four answered the call and in 2006, we established our Chefs Advisory Board, a working committee with Monica as its Chair. Through the years, more and more chefs have joined our founding members, and today we have over 100 members in Houston and across the country. Monica Pope continues to lead the team as Chair Emeritus.
These busy professionals donate their time month after month, year after year, bringing their unique insight and perspective of food to the children, turning on their taste buds and opening their minds to new foods. It's a Recipe for Success! Would you like to join us? Get in touch and get started today!
The Foundation's Chefs Advisory Board served as inspiration for the White House campaign for Chefs Move to School! Six members of our Chefs Advisory Board joined members of our Board of Directors at the White House in June 2010 for the kick-off of Chefs Move to Schools! where Recipe for Success was featured as a national model and resource. See pictures here. And read about the trip here and here.