By Walter Villa, Special to STU
He went off script – and for a great reason.
St. Thomas University President David A. Armstrong, J.D. used the occasion of STU’s third-annual Fashion & Food Showcase on Thursday night to make a special announcement.
“Just a couple of hours ago,” President Armstrong began, “we signed an agreement to sponsor the School of Culinary Arts, Tourism, and Hospitality Management in the name of one of the most famous chefs in the world, Ameer Natson.”
President Armstrong explained that Chef Natson has agreed to a seven-figure commitment, earning him naming rights for an on-campus lab for culinary students.
Currently, culinary students must drive all the way to Sunny Isles to receive hands-on training.
Now, things will be different thanks to Chef Natson, a native of New Jersey who grew up poor as the son of divorced parents.
As a young child, Chef Natson never liked cooking, but at the age of 11, his father gifted him a hot-dog stand.
“I’m a black boy from North New Jersey,” Chef Natson said. “If my mother were here, she’d say, ‘I have no idea how he became a chef because he never even boiled water growing up.’
“The truth is that I never wanted an apron for Christmas … or a knife set. My father bought me that hot-dog stand, but not to teach me how to become a chef. He wanted to teach me to become an entrepreneur.”
Mission accomplished.
Through years of hard work, Chef Natson skillfully carved his niche as a celebrity chef, cooking for Jay Z and Beyonce, among others.
From there, it took great courage to break away from that famed power couple to start his own brand, but Chef Natson did it in order to leave a lasting legacy for his family.
Partnering with STU will only cement that legacy.
“God has blessed me to be in a space to have prepared food, particularly in the private-chef sector,” Chef Natson said. “I have created culinary indulgences for the likes of the Opras and the Obamas of the world, the Jay Zs and Beyonces.
“But there were a few things that got me excited about partnering with St. Thomas University, and one of them was spending time with a few students of the culinary program.
“I saw myself in them.”
In fact, Chef Natson said he has been inspired to “immediately start working on breaking ground to bring to fruition the vision you all have for the School of Culinary Arts, Tourism, and Hospitality Management.
“I could not leave here without us committing to change the lives of young people that will come to this beautiful campus to make their dreams come true.”
President Armstrong was delighted with Chef Natson’s commitment to reinvestment, building and … dreaming.
“This is an unbelievable night,” President Armstrong said. “Thank you, Chef!”
Later, President Armstrong pointed out that STU’s Fashion & Food Showcase has grown impressively since 277 guests showed up the first year. That number grew to 397 in 2023 and 477 on Thursday, to mark the third year.
Indeed, this year’s Fashion & Food Showcase was hosted by Juliette Valle, who is the reigning Miss Florida.
The event’s presenting sponsors were the Law Offices of John Leon and Snatched Plastic Surgery.
Professor Ashlee Rzyczycki, the director of STU’s Fashion Merchandising and Design program, and Samer Hassan, the director of Culinary Arts, Tourism and Hospitality Management program, organized the affair, which included a food village featuring chef Kenny Tang and Oriental Fine Foods.
In addition, STU’s culinary students created a McDonald’s deconstructed menu.
Other food and beverage sponsors included ECM, Paella y Ole Catering, La Croix, La Tropical, and Zwilling.
Celia Ledon, a world-renowned costume designer and artist, had her work featured.
Several elite fashion designers/brands were represented, including Rene by RR Rene Ruiz, Judith Cabrera, The House of Suits, Cubavera by Perry Ellis International, Altar by Gustavo Cadile, and Fly Supply.
Other sponsors and participants at the event included: McDonald’s, Funkshion, Starboard Cruise Services, Barry University, Jorge and Marile Lopez Foundation, Mana Fashion Services, and Style Your Career.
“The Fashion & Food Showcase is becoming one of the premier events in South Florida,” President Armstrong said, “and we are going to continue to grow this because our students are phenomenal.”
