Dorothy Hamilton Is Only The Fourth American Culinary Figure To Receive The French Legion Of Honor

Dorothy Hamilton, James Beard award-winning culinary figure and CEO of the International Culinary Center, has been selected as a 2015 recipient of the French Legion of Honor for her work in promoting French cuisine in America. She joins the ranks of only three other American chefs and culinary legends, Thomas Keller, Julia Child, and Alice Waters for helping to bring French cuisine to America through culinary education.

The French Legion of Honor, established by Napoleon Bonaparte, is the order of highest decoration in France. Although membership can technically only be reserved for French nationals, but according to the French government, foreign dignitaries, military officers, and other nationals may be honored if they "have served France or the ideals it upholds."

The Consul General of France in New York, Bertrand Lortholary, and French chef and ICC Dean Jacques Pépin presented the award to Dorothy Hamilton at an official ceremony at the French consulate in New York. The ceremony was attended by notables such as notable chefs Alain Sailhac, André Soltner and Cesare Casella;  Doug Hickey of the Milan Expo; professor Marion Nestle and James Beard member Mitchell Davis.