Niagara College’s (NC) Signature Chef Series returns by popular demand, with its second guest chef for 2024 bringing the vibrant flavours of Louisiana to Benchmark to celebrate the end of summer.

On Saturday, October 5, the series will continue with Executive Chef Eric Martinez from the Orlando World Center Marriott – the largest Marriott Hotel globally, renowned for its “world beyond compare” experience. Chef Martinez is set to create an unforgettable dining experience, infusing his Louisiana heritage into the gourmet dishes served at Benchmark, located at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The Signature Chef Series is a unique culinary event that brings globally renowned chefs to NC. Since 2014, the series has provided a platform for chefs from around the world to showcase their talents, work alongside students, and offer guests a one-of-a-kind dining experience and an opportunity to enjoy gourmet dishes in an immersive setting.

“Our Signature Chef Series is more than just a dinner, it’s an experience,” said Craig Youdale, Dean of Niagara College’s Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies. “The goal is to create an atmosphere that reflect the origins of our world class guest chefs and offer an opportunity for our students and staff to connect with leading professionals in the industry. We are excited to bring Chef Eric’s amazing culinary talents to our community and hope that everyone can come take part in this special event.”

“I feel honoured to be back on Niagara College’s campus,” said Chef Martinez, who previously participated in NC’s Craft Beer and BBQ Festival as a Barbecue Guest Chef. “The welcome and collaboration from the students and instructors is incredible. I am inspired to bring the team at Niagara College a proper Louisiana feast that will bring a little Mardi Gras and a little bit of ‘Laissez les bon temps rouler.'”

Chef Martinez began his culinary career in New Orleans, where he honed his skills as one of the youngest non-European sous chefs at Arnaud’s restaurant. His career with Marriott has taken him from the JW Desert Springs Marriott in Palm Desert, California, to the Hilton Head Marriott Beach and Golf Resort in South Carolina, and finally to the New Orleans Marriott as Executive Sous Chef. At the New Orleans Marriott, he promoted the city’s food and culture on national TV shows like Good Morning America and Martha Stewart Live. Chef Martinez has also been featured as a James Beard Chef for Réveillon and on Good Morning America for Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance.

Currently at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Chef Martinez has played a significant role in developing, renovating, and operating several dining establishments, including Siro Urban Italian Kitchen, Falls Pool Bar & Grill, and the Central Pantry project. He has also contributed to enhancing the food and beverage experience for critical sales site visits and has fostered an inclusive environment for all teams.

Raised in South Louisiana with grandparents from Spain and France, Chef Martinez’s cooking style, which he describes as “naturally New Orleans,” reflects his deep appreciation for the culture and heritage that shaped him.

The October 5 Signature Chef Series event will begin at Benchmark with a speakeasy bar and reception-style experience, followed by action food stations in an outdoor tent and patio. Guests will enjoy a one-of-a-kind night with music, friends, and families. The evening will feature an eight-station food carnival, paired with Niagara College wine, beer, and cocktails. The menu will feature items such as a Cajun Charcuterie Board, New Orleans-style BBQ Shrimp over Tasso Grits, Crawfish Étouffée, Duck & Andouille Gumbo and more.

Tickets for the event are now available for purchase at $175 per person. The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For additional details and to purchase tickets, please visit the Eventbrite website here.

NC’s Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division, includes three distinct schools of study: Culinary Arts; Wine, Beer and Spirits; and Hospitality and Tourism.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 100 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is ranked Canada’s No.1 research college. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

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Media inquiries, please contact:
Alyssa Milana
Communications Consultant (Acting)
905-329-0389
[email protected]

The post Join renowned Chef Eric Martinez for an authentic Louisiana culinary experience at NC’s Signature Chef Series appeared first on Niagara College.

With the craft beer industry becoming a staple in Canada’s economy, Niagara College (NC) has taken a leading role in ensuring quality and consistency across the sector. To address the need for ongoing quality assurance, NC assembled a team of industry and academic partners to establish the Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program.

Developed in partnership with three other colleges (Durham College, Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick’s CCNB-INNOV, and Olds College of Agriculture & Technology), three provincial craft beverage associations (Ontario Craft Brewers, Alberta Small Brewers Association, and Craft Alcohol New Brunswick); and 17 brewery partners, the program was funded with $1,789,330 over two years by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through the Applied Research and Technology Partnership (ARTP) program.

The Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program is designed to support breweries of all sizes in maintaining high standards. It offers a solution that is approachable, can be customized for each brewery, allows for adaptability in a constantly changing regulatory environment, and most importantly, was developed in collaboration with industry experts and craft brewers themselves. The program also provides a series of building blocks and tools that brewers can use to develop and implement their own customized Quality Management System, or QMS. These resources include an action list, brewery process flow chart, gap assessment, quality guidelines, forms, and standard operating procedures.

“Through ongoing communication with our industry partners, our team has listened and clearly understands that one of the ways we can help most is by taking the lead in developing a comprehensive quality program that can be adopted by industry; one that is developed by impartial third-party experts, and that is designed in a manner that can be owned and administered by the industry itself,” said Lyndon Ashton, Niagara College’s Associate Director, Economic Development and Planning, Research and Innovation. “This program represents a vital step forward that will drive capacity building at all levels within the operation resulting in tangible impacts that will inevitably translate into increased consumer confidence and market growth.”

To celebrate the success of this program, a series of videos featuring each college partner and some of their respective breweries was developed to showcase how they participated in the creation of the program. In addition, a summary video highlighting the overall program and how it will impact breweries and provincial associations was developed.

To test the program out, each project team at the respective college worked with craft breweries in their communities. They started with initial gap assessments, drafted their customized programs, and then breweries had six to nine months for implementation, with ongoing support from the colleges.

As a result of the program, craft breweries are experiencing increased efficiencies, cost savings, and improved quality and consistency. Staff training has been greatly simplified now that they have defined systems and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and they are well positioned for future regulatory changes and growth.

Back in 2018, NC’s Food and Beverage Innovation Centre undertook an Ontario Craft Brewery Quality Review, examining 173 craft beers from 27 styles at two-points-in-time, to evaluate basic analytics and quality. The results highlighted the need for in-place quality programming at craft breweries. Making a consistent high-quality beer is more important than ever in this climate of increasing inflationary and supply chain cost issues especially for smaller-scale craft breweries.

Many students from academic programs worked as Research Assistants alongside these partners and received valuable work-integrated learning and capacity building for their future careers. For example, at NC, students from the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program and School of Business and Management worked on this project. Ultimately, the intellectual property has been assigned to each provincial association and they will decide how to make the program available, so it is best suited for their brew members. Craft breweries are encouraged to reach out to their association to see how they can implement this program in their business.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 100 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is ranked Canada’s No.1 research college. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

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Videos:

Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program Summary Video (English subtitles)

Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program Summary Video (French subtitles)

CCNB (French version)

CCNB (English version)

Durham College

Olds College

Niagara College

Media inquiries, please contact:

Alyssa Milana

Communications Consultant (Acting)

Niagara College

905-329-0389

[email protected]

The post Niagara College brews consistent excellence through the Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program appeared first on Niagara College.

Strong enrolment, refreshed campus spaces, and a social events calendar packed full of fun and welcoming orientation activities for students signal the start of a new academic year at Niagara College.

On September 4, the College will welcome more than 10,000 new and returning students to its campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. This year marks the largest increase in domestic enrolments since 2019. This is due in part to the new Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program launching in September and the associated pre-health streams. Ambitious plans will make it a year of growth and renewal at the College.

“Every fall, we look forward to welcoming new and returning students from across Canada and around the globe,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “With the support of our dedicated faculty, staff and NC Student Administrative Council (NCSAC), we’ll kick off this new academic year with tremendous momentum so our students have an exceptional start to their college experience.”

For many, that experience will start on Labour Day weekend, when hundreds of students will move into campus residences.

Between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, a full complement of 232 students will move into residence at the Welland Campus, while between 200 and 218 students (full capacity) will move into residence at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Residence Life Staff from the College will be on hand to help students get settled into their home-away-from home on campus.

Fall Orientation

The Athletics and Student Engagement departments and International Division have been preparing all summer for the start of classes on Sept. 4, beginning with virtual pre-orientation sessions throughout the month of August, where students could get information about timetable selection, student services and communications tools.

In the summer, NC employees travelled to India to host in-person pre-departure sessions for incoming Fall semester students. Pre-departure sessions were also offered virtually for international students, providing them with an opportunity to gather information to prepare themselves for their studies at NC and life in Canada. Between the two sessions, more than 1,300 students participated.

During KickSTART Prep Week, Aug. 19-30, students had a chance to tour their campus, pick up their ID card, and visit the Bookstore ahead of the start of the Fall semester.

“This is one of the most exciting and inspiring times of the year: The halls are full of people pursuing their dreams and greatest aspirations, and knowing we can play a huge part in that journey is simply incredible,” said NCSAC President Dipal Patel. “September is often – for many students – their first-time experiencing college life. This comes with so many firsts… and we like to think of ourselves as a student’s best friend on campus helping them through all those firsts.”

Orientation Day will take place on Sept. 3 at the Welland and Daniel J. Patterson Campuses. Program Information Sessions and Co-op Information Sessions for every program have been scheduled and will provide an opportunity for students to meet faculty and classmates from their program, review their courses, and ask questions. All sessions are listed on NC’s Orientation website. Information booths for international students will be set up at both campuses and at the NCSAC Carnival in Welland.

Weeks of social events will fill the month of September in collaboration between the Athletics and Student Engagement department, International Division and NCSAC.

Among this year’s Orientation activities:

• NCSAC Carnival (Welland): This flagship event is back on Sept. 3 from 2 to 7 p.m. on the front field at the Welland Campus and will feature a Ferris wheel, carnival rides, inflatables, a vendor fair, free food for students and more. Free, direct shuttles will run from the Daniel J. Patterson Campus to the Welland Campus at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• NC Knights Soccer Home Opener (off-campus): The season officially begins for the Knights Women’s and Men’s soccer teams on Sept. 6 at Youngs Sportsplex in Welland. Students can cheer on the women’s team starting at 6 p.m. and the men’s team at 8 p.m.;
• Niagara Falls Boat Trip (off-campus): Students can see Niagara Falls up close and personal on a Niagara City Cruise ride (Sept. 7, all day);
• Friendship Social: Fun activities and prizes await students at the Welland Campus Wellness Lounge on Sept. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus Wellness Lounge on Sept. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.;
  International Coffee Corners: Two are scheduled at each Campus on Sept. 17 and 19 – one with information about fraud prevention, and the other focusing on Library Services for Academic Success.

A full list of events for September and beyond is available on the Orientation social events calendar.

What’s new at NC

As the Fall semester kicks off, students can look forward to working in expanded academic and student gathering spaces; a number of revitalization projects to renovate and improve NC’s campuses will continue throughout the year. This includes renovations to classrooms and student gathering spaces, as well as expansions to academic labs including, hair styling, renewable energy program, and more.

September also marks the start of the College’s new Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program. With an inaugural intake of 45 students, the program was introduced to expand options for students in nursing education and help meet the urgent demand for more registered nurses in Niagara and beyond.

The program will have a strong clinical focus supported by state-of-the-art simulation labs and placement partnerships. Combining theory and practice, the BScN program will prepare students for careers in the nursing field or further study at the graduate level. It was designed with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusivity, and holistic care for aging adults, young children, young families and underserved populations, including those living in rural areas and those impacted by mental health and chronic health challenges.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Courtney De Caire
Communications Consultant
289-407-8298
[email protected]

The post Niagara College celebrates strong enrolment for the start of the Fall semester appeared first on Niagara College.

Final term students from Niagara College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program were hopping with excitement after learning of their success at two U.S. beer competitions recently.

Of the five beers entered in the 2024 U.S. Open College Beer Championship, Niagara College’s Teaching Brewery collected three medals: a gold for its Cherry Blawesome Barrel Aged Stout, a silver for its Vindobona Schrammer Vienna Lager, and a silver for its Blonde…James Blonde Belgian Blonde Ale.

Cherry Blawesome was also awarded Best in Show, and the Teaching Brewery tied for third place overall.

“Our Teaching Brewery continues to shine internationally, proving once again that Niagara College’s level of teaching is exceptional,” said Steve Gill, General Manager, Learning Enterprises. “The hands-on learning that students get at NC is the reason they’re so successful, both while they’re studying and after they graduate. We’re very proud of our students and the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program.”

NC was one of 11 schools entered in the eighth annual championship, which is the only competition of its kind that focuses on student brewers. Each college or university may enter up to four beers of their choosing to be judged according to the regular U.S. Open style standards as well as the stated intentions of the student brewers.

One additional beer from a specific category can also be entered to be judged head-to-head according to the U.S. Open style standards and judging procedures.

For student brewer Braden Pedersen who worked on silver medal-winning Blonde…James Blonde, the “surreal” win was all due to a strong group effort.

“I’m super thankful for what I’ve learned taking this program, as it certainly helped me refine the original recipe into something much better,” Pedersen said. “But more importantly, I have to thank my fellow classmates who assisted me and our other winners throughout our brew days, as without their care and attention to detail none of us would have medaled. At its best, brewing is a team effort; even if your beer didn’t medal (you) know that your effort and craftsmanship is appreciated every step of the way.”

Nathan Melo’s Cherry Blawesome started as an experiment—the goal of which was to create a beer his mother would enjoy.

“The beauty of this program is that we have the facility and the freedom to take on a challenge, so I did,” Melo said. “I developed the recipe with my mother in mind… and wanted to make something she would enjoy. As a child I recall her loving the Hershey’s Cherry Blossom candy, so I formulated the recipe to have a complex chocolate profile, a gentle cherry sweetness, and a very light vanilla flavor from the barrel.”

For his brew to win a gold medal was a bonus—and justified the many hours of work he put into it, he said.

“The award is very humbling, appreciated and validates that the late nights, early mornings and the one-hour commute (from Puslinch, ON) to and from class have all been so worth it.”

The Teaching Brewery was also awarded two medals at the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship. Winners were announced shortly after those from the college competition.

The U.S. Open Beer Championship is among the top beer competitions in the U.S. and judges more beer styles than any other competition in the world.

NC’s Beer 101 Bitter was awarded a silver medal in the Special Bitter or Best Bitter category, while its Beer 101 Strong earned a bronze in the Old/Strong Ale category. Both beers medalled at the 2023 championship as well.

“Being recognized with an award is always a great personal reward and recognition for their class and the college,” said Brewmaster and professor Jon Downing. “Encouraging the students to design, brew and select the entries into (these competitions) allows them as a group—and individuals—to see what it takes to take a beer from an idea to an entry in a world-class event.”

Cherry Blawesome will be one of the beers featured at the next Project Brew, taking place on August 9 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus. The beer festival showcases the work of fourth-semester Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management students, whose distinctive craft beers will be sampled by guests with the goal of being chosen the People’s Choice.

The top beer will be awarded the $4,500 Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Lallemand Brewing.

Products from the NC Teaching Brewery are available for purchase alongside student-created products from the NC Teaching Winery and Teaching Distillery (while supplies last) at NC’s Wine + Visitor Education Centre at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake (135 Taylor Rd.)

Get ready to raise your goblets and toast to the finest ales at Niagara College’s Project Brew: Medieval Faire. Hosted by Brewmaster & Brewery Operations program students, the beer festival will take place on August 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus Courtyard, promising an evening of exceptional brews and medieval charm.

The event, serving as the capstone project for the Beer Sales and Promotions class, allows fourth-semester students to showcase their brewing talents and creativity while applying the skills and knowledge they have acquired throughout their studies at the College.

“I am very excited to see the work of this cohort,” said Victor Pauka Alves De Oliveira, Manager, Catering & Special Events, Niagara College. “Summer is always an exciting season to attend Project Brew. The chosen theme is very engaging and bright, and the class is creating a unique range of beers for guests to enjoy.”

Guests will have the opportunity to sample 19 distinctive student-crafted beers. Individual student creations will be judged by a panel of industry professionals, while collaborative student beers will also be available for tasting.

The top beer will be awarded the $4,500 Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Lallemand Brewing. Guests can also play judge and vote for their favourite beer to be crowned the People’s Choice Award winner.

Students Keiran Brown-MacFayden and Cooper Kelly are this term’s Project Brew co-chairs. This is the first year Project Brew has experimented with a co-chair position, to better manage the extensive number of beers offered at the festival.

This year’s theme also marks a first for Project Brew. After reviewing previous events, the team of students decided that the new medieval theme would provide a distinctive and entertaining experience for attendees.

“Since our brewers come from diverse backgrounds from all over the world, it’s been interesting to see what ideas the ‘Medieval Faire’ theme evokes beyond Europe,” said Brown-MacFayden. “We really focused on the guest experience and ensuring it will be a warm and welcoming atmosphere that everyone will enjoy.”

The event not only provides students with a platform to showcase their brewing expertise but also allows them to demonstrate their event planning skills, critical for success in the beverage industry.

“The event-planning and management experience has been invaluable, adding a significant dimension to our brewmaster training,” said Brown-MacFayden. “It’s about making great beer accessible to the people who will enjoy it.”

Brown-MacFayden will present two beers at the festival. His non-competition beer, named “Irish Redpoll” after the playful Irish songbird, is a classic Irish Red accented with a touch of rye.

“The beer is dry and easy drinking at 4.2% ABV, while boasting a load of rich and roasty malty goodness to keep you coming back for more,” he said.

His competition beer, “Songbird,” is an experimental blend of two styles close to his heart: English Ale and German Lager.

“I wanted to introduce something new that nobody has tasted yet, and really show the range of flavours that beers can achieve,” said Brown-MacFayden. “Think of sipping on a pint in an English garden on a sweltering summer day, with a refreshingly crisp lager that is as crushable as it is memorable.”

Brown-MacFayden has had ambitious post-graduation plans since he began the program at NC. Having already gained experience as a brewer at Newark Brewing, he decided it was time to forge his own path. After graduating, he plans to launch his own beer brand, “The Rook and Raven Brewing Company,” featuring four British-inspired beers he developed and trialed at the College. He even intends for his Project Brew competition beer, “Songbird,” to be his flagship product, paving the way for his brand’s future.

Kelly’s entry, “Baby Dino,” is inspired by the historical German beer style Mittelalter Alter Einbecker Bier, which no longer exists today. The brew also ties in perfectly with the event’s medieval theme.

“Baby Dino is an exceptionally lightly carbonated beer with an enormous amount of malt character paired with traditional German hops and botanicals that would have been used back in the Middle Ages,” said Kelly. “Developing this recipe required extensive research into historical brewing methods. I was inspired to brew this style of beer as it would challenge my talent and skills as a brewer and would be an extremely fun and interesting brew to learn from in the future.”

For Kelly, studying in the Brewmaster & Brewery Operations program has been one of the best experiences of his life.

“I have learned so much about the brewing industry from recipe design, microbiology, and business management, and the faculty is the best in the industry to learn from,” he said.

At Project Brew, guests will also get to experience delicious food offerings prepared by students from Niagara College’s Culinary Arts programs, including Beer Brined Honey Mustard Smoked Wings, Stout Braised Beef Cornish Pasties, and more.

New to this term’s Project Brew are interactive games and competitions such as Rope Toss, Bean Bag Toss, Pitcher Holder, and Wheel of Chance. Guests will receive colour-coded bandanas and accumulate points for their teams throughout the evening, with the winning team crowned at the end of the event.

A portion of the proceeds from Project Brew will support the Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of the late Matt Soos, a 2015 Brewmaster program graduate. The scholarship is supported by Railway City Brewing, Muskoka Brewing, and Natterjack Brewing Company Ltd., founded by Soos’s family.

Tickets are priced at $35 + tax and include a sample glass, five tokens (one more than previous years), and an exclusive Project Brew collectible bandana. Limited tickets are available for purchase here.

For the latest updates on Project Brew and ticket information, visit the event website here.

NC’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program was launched in 2010 as the first of its kind in Canada. The award-winning, two-year diploma program offers extensive hands-on training at an on-campus, state-of-the-art Teaching Brewery to prepare students for employment in the brewery, microbrewery and brewpub industries. Visit ncteachingbrewery.ca.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 11,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is ranked Canada’s No.1 research college. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

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Media inquiries, please contact:
Alyssa Milana
Communications Consultant (Acting)
905-329-0389
[email protected]

The post NC Knights of the tap present Project Brew: Medieval Faire appeared first on Niagara College.