United States Chief of Protocol Capricia Penavic Marshall will launch the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership at the U.S. Department of State on Friday, September 7 at 6:00 pm. This new initiative will elevate the role of culinary engagement in America’s formal and public diplomacy efforts. As part of this endeavor, chefs from across the country will serve as resources to the Department in preparing meals for foreign leaders, and will participate in public diplomacy programs that engage foreign audiences abroad as well as those visiting the United States.

This will be the first gathering of the newly-created American Chef Corps, which is a network of chefs from across the United States who have agreed to serve as resources to the Department of State. Speakers at the event will highlight the ways in which these individuals can contribute their time and unique talents through collaboration with the Office of the Chief of Protocol, the Bureau of International Information Programs, and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The speaking program will include a taped video address from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as remarks by Ambassador Marshall, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine, and President of the James Beard Foundation Susan Ungaro, who is also a co-host for the event.

The event will include a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that formalizes the partnership between the offices of Ambassador Marshall, Under Secretary Sonenshine, and the James Beard Foundation.

More than 50 prominent chefs and culinary leaders are expected to attend, including:

Jose Andrés, Rick Bayless, Amanda Freitag, Duff Goldman, Tony Mantuano, Mary Sue Milliken, Rick Moonen, Marc Murphy, Art Smith, Bryan Voltaggio, and Cathy Whims, among many others.

The event will be held in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State. The speaking program will be open to the press. The reception portion of the evening will be closed press.

Pre set for camera crews and photographers: 4:30 pm from the C Street entrance lobby. Final access for writers: 5:40 pm from the C Street entrance lobby. Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

To attend or request additional information, please contact Jason Rahlan at RahlanJM@state.gov or (202) 647-6096.