It’s not every day that a Chef and a Baker from Nova Scotia receive membership in one of the world’s most prestigious culinary organizations.  But on Sunday, May 29, Fid Resto chef/owner, Dennis Johnston, and Jean Marc Riant, baker/owner of Boulangerie le Vendeenne boarded a plane to Montreal and were inducted into the Académie Culinaire de France.

Johnston and Riant are two of only three culinary professionals from Nova Scotia to hold membership in this elite group.  The third member is a fairly new arrival to the province and is the man who put forward Dennis’ and Jean Marc’s names for consideration by the judging panel.  Eric Norman came to Nova Scotia in 2010, with his family.  He has a long and illustrious career as a private and restaurant chef throughout Europe, and is currently working in Halifax as a private chef.Eric met Dennis and Jean Marc when he first arrived in Nova Scotia, and was so impressed with their dedication to their craft of culinary quality and creativity, that he chose to nominate the two of them for membership into the Académie.

“It’s an honor to get a nod from your peers on an international level.   We are so happy to be representatives of the Académie here in Nova Scotia.  With only 25 Canadians chef members, this is a real honor”.

“Getting this award is a huge honor” says Jean Marc Riant.  “To be recognized by the best chefs and pastry chefs and bakers in the world… to be now part of this community of highly talented professionals, is a great thing for me”.

The Académie Culinaire de France was founded on February 18, 1883 by Joseph Favre, author of the Universal Dictionary of Cooking.  The academy represents the elite of the profession and its members are the cream of the crop of the pastry and culinary arts. The academy’s goals are to: develop the culinary and pastry arts, promote haute cuisine, maintain the prestige of the profession, and update old recipes. Members of the academy hold national prestige and, in foreign countries, they play an important role as ambassadors of the culinary and pastry professions.