Adrianne Calvo '04

Just like many students who go to college with a dream, Adrianne Calvo came to J&W knowing she wanted to reach the top. Adrianne enrolled at J&W's College of Culinary Arts in North Miami in 2002 hoping she would eventually become a star chef. Over time she entered more than 40 national competitions. Adrianne's results were amazing — she received first place in 10 of the competitions and was on the podium as a runner-up for the rest.          
 
It wasn’t until fall of 2004 when Adrianne received her big break at J&W's Taste Down Under recipe contest. After placing second in the grueling competition, she dazzled a group of high-powered food service professionals, including executives from the Food Network, CNN and “Gourmet” magazine.
 
The group loved her cooking, and before she knew it, she was flown to Boston to receive intensive media training for a TV show she has in the works.
 
But that's just the beginning. Among Adrianne's accomplishments are cooking at the United Nations in New York City and being named Youngest Chef to cook for the Ambassadors of the United Natins. She has also cooked for producers at the Food Network, writers from Gourmet and Saveur magazines, and the James Beard house.  In her spare time, Adrianne has found time to personally cater for the Florida Marlins at the 2003 World Series, and celebrities including Will Smith, P. Diddy and John Travolta. In addition, Adrianne has co-hosted FOOD TALK with Rocco DiSpirito, who calls her "prodigy Chef."
 
In November 2005, Adrianne launched her first cookbook, "Maximum Flavor," and is in the process of opening her own restaurant, Terra Dolci, in South Miami.  After the death of her younger sister to cancer in 2006, Adrianne partnered with St. Judes Children's Hospital to set up "Young Chefs Cooking for a Cure."  Adrianne's mission is to motivate America to do great things.