Bits and Bites (A Foodie’s Delights) honors El Centro’s “Founding Father” of Food, Gus Katsigris

Dallas – The founding father of food at El Centro College, C. Gus Katsigris, is on the menu in March – not to be grilled in a celebrity “roast” but to be honored for his contributions to the Dallas restaurant scene and culinary education for more than 40 years. Katsigris, whose roots are in Greece and whose heart is in Dallas, has been a teacher, mentor, restauranteur, chef and even a gastronomic Greek tour guide. His advice is sought by many – and so are his successful students whose talents attract diners from across the DFW metroplex to area eateries.

A chef in almost every Dallas kitchen has been trained through the El Centro College Food and Hospitality Institute. Katsigris led the way, rebuilding the program in the 1970s until he “retired” several years ago. “Retired” (as professor emeritus) means that he still has an office on campus, answers his email day and night, recreated a “Vines and Wines” course last year (and wrote a new textbook for it), checks on student-run dining services each week during any given semester, and still finds time to be involved with the institute’s Exes alumni group as well as the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, the Texas Restaurant Association and other organizations.

“Bits and Bites” of sweet and savory things are the highlight of the aptly-titled annual event at El Centro College, which will be held on Sun., March 30. Area chefs will lend their hands and their talents to raise funds for ECC’s culinary arts program as they honor Katsigris. Those funds will help the college expand its Food and Hospitality Institute kitchens and services so that faculty members can inspire and train the next generation of talented food and hospitality experts in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Foodies in the Dallas area might be surprised to learn how many chefs at their favorite restaurants learned their skills and craft at El Centro College through the culinary arts program. El Centro's Food and Hospitality Institute started in 1970 with Gus Katsigris, chef extraordinaire and mentor to so many of today's current and future chefs. El Centro's culinary students and successful alumni will honor Katsigris for his leadership, vision and support during a special fundraising event called "Bits and Bites." The gastronomic Greek chef, who always has a laugh and smile to share, is "retired" but never slows down -- he still visits, networks with restaurant associations at the local and state levels, mentors students, checks on the student-run lunch services at El Centro and motivates others to be culinary stars.

The evening’s festivities will feature foods prepared by El Centro’s former students and friends of the college; a variety of wine, beer and designer soft drinks will be served as well. The cost is $45 in advance and $50 at the door; the event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Student Center on the downtown Dallas campus of El Centro College, located at 801 Main St.

More than 150 accomplished chefs in the Dallas area received their formal training at the Food and Hospitality Institute at El Centro College. Katsigris has helped teach and advise almost every one of them, including Chad Houser at Café Momentum; Dunia Borga of LaDuni Restaurants; Marc Cassel of 20 Feet Seafood Joint and formerly of The Green Room; the late Randall Copeland of Restaurant Ava and Boulevardier; Richard Chamberlain of Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House and Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill; and Shari Carlson of Dessert Dreams, among many stellar chefs who are graduates of the program, which Katsigris created with Dr. Frances Hitt in 1970.

“Every year, ‘Bits and Bites’ honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the program at El Centro College and to the hospitality industry. Gus Katsigris, this year’s honoree, truly is ‘one of our own’,” said Jessie Yearwood, nutrition faculty member for El Centro’s culinary arts program. “Our alumni are accomplished -- they work in every successful kitchen, banquet hall and dining room in north Texas. They also are excited to honor the man who helped inspire them to pursue a career where they can be successful and contribute to their communities, too.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance online at elcentrocollege.edu or at the cashier’s office on the second floor of the A Building on campus at 801 Main St. in Dallas. Purchase tickets by mail with checks made payable to "DCCCD Foundation" and send them to: El Centro College, Cindy Bozzelli-Duke, Business and Public Services, 801 Main St., Dallas TX 75202.

For information, contact Cindy Bozzelli-Duke by phone at (214) 860-2213 or by e-mail at bo-duke@dcccd.edu.