Good Luck to Chef Todd Kelly of Orchids!

Todd Kelly, Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, is the current American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF) Northeast Region Chef of the Year recipient. He will be competing in Dallas, Texas next week against three other regional winners for the national title of Chef of the Year.

About the American Culinary Federation

The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 20,000 members spanning 225 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org.

Getting Down to Buzz-Ness

Buying local products has always been a priority with Todd Kelly for the Orchids at Palm Court menu. This summer, he's getting one product from a very close source - the roof of the hotel's sixth floor That's where he is harvesting honey from a beehive.

The two beehives hopefully yield about 18 pounds of honey. Every day, Todd or another team member takes a jar of simple syrup to the hives to encourage the bees to return. "If they have a constant supply of food, they'll come back. If they don't, they'll find another hive to frequent," Todd said.

Has Todd or anyone else gotten stung? "No. The bees are here for the food and as long as they aren't bothered they won't sting."

Todd uses the honey and its byproducts for a number of things including an artisanal cheese selection. The honey comb and fresh thyme are used with sharp white cheddar He also glazes roasted duck with the homemade honey by mixing it with Dijon mustard and tops it off with bee pollen. A honey cake with mascarpone gelato is a seasonal favorite from the pastry kitchen.

Pastry Chef Megan Ketover is looking forward to using the very fresh supply "I've always been involved with knowing where the products I use come from. I've always used local honey for the desserts and now the prospect of using honey that was made four floors away is going to be pretty cool"
About Orchids at Palm Court & the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

Orchids at Palm Court is part of The Restaurants at Palm Court which also include The Bar at Palm Court and The Grille at Palm Court. They are located in the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. The Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza opened in 1931 and is one of the world's finest examples of French art deco architecture and the restaurant features rare Brazilian rosewood walls with German silver-nickel metalwork and lighting fixtures. The two-story ceiling features large Romanesque murals and on the north end of the restaurant is an original Rookwood Pottery fountain flanked by two large seahorses which illustrates the magnificent examples of art deco in the restaurant. The hotel is a charter member of Historic Hotels of America, is a registered National Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.