West Virginia University chefs Eric Filburn and Scott Spiker do more than plan meals for 25,000 students – they are masters when it comes to catering special events.
Both Filburn, executive chef and assistant director of Dining Services, and Spiker, executive chef at the Erickson Alumni Center, were featured in the July 15 issue of Food Service Directors magazine. The article, titled “Shrinking Catered Affairs,” is located on pages 32-34.
“Both Eric and Scott are highly talented individuals with impressive resumes in the private sector. They bring a culinary sophistication to the collegiate dining arena that is paramount in allowing WVU to compete nationally,” said David Friend, director of WVU’s Dining Services. “We are one of the largest university food service organizations in the country and Eric and Scott play a major role in keeping WVU on the cutting edge in today’s highly competitive hospitality marketplace.”
Filburn was recognized for the way he presents a meal. He is noted for being creative with the size and shapes of meals.
For example, Filburn frequently will present guests with multiple desserts in smaller form. One popular dessert he prepares is a trio of mousse variations on the banana split, including pineapple with toasted coconut, chocolate with banana chip and strawberry with pistachio crunch. The desserts are served on one platter in mini-martini glasses.
Spiker was also recognized for presenting catered meals in mini-versions.
“Instead of one big entr�e, we’ll do two or three little ones,” Spiker mentioned in the article.
For example, he will serve potato crab cakes with bourbon butter sauce and a petite sirloin with mushrooms on two seven-inch side plates instead of one large one.
The guest’s perception, Spiker said, is they have been able to taste a little of everything.
For more information on WVU’s Dining Services, visit http://diningservices.wvu.edu/ .
For more information on the magazine, visit http://www.fsdmag.com/ .
-WVU-
07/20/10
CONTACT: John Birchman, WVU Dining Services
304-293-4372 ext. 16202, John.Birchman@mail.wvu.edu