Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, a live learning laboratory for culinary and baking and pastry arts students at Pennsylvania College of Technology, was recognized with a “Best of Award of Excellence” as part of Wine Spectator Magazine’s 2020 Restaurant Awards program.
The casual fine-dining restaurant is operated by the college’s School of Business, Arts & Sciences.
The Restaurant Awards are the focus of Wine Spectator’s July-August issue, which hit newsstands on July 14 and reaches 3.5 million readers. Information about award winners is also accessible via Wine Spectator’s website, app and free restaurant search database.
“The Wine Spectator team is pleased to recognize the achievements of nearly 3,800 restaurants, hailing from all 50 states and 80 countries and territories, that have demonstrated the passion and devoted the resources to create outstanding wine programs,” wrote Cassia Schifter, the magazine’s associate tasting coordinator. “The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.”
Le Jeune Chef is one of 1,387 restaurants worldwide (27 in Pennsylvania) to earn the magazine’s second-tier “Best of” award. Only 100 restaurants received the top-tier “Grand Award,” and 2,289 received the magazine’s “Award of Excellence.”
Wine lists receiving the Best of Award of Excellence, typically offering 350 selections or more, provide an array of wines from top producers across a breadth of regions. These restaurants’ teams invest time in extensive staff training, carefully designed presentations, innovative menu pairings and showpiece wine cellars, according to Wine Spectator.
Le Jeune Chef Restaurant has been recognized in the magazine’s Restaurant Awards since 1995. Its wine list offers more than 500 selections, encompassing major varieties from the world’s key wine-producing regions, with strengths in California, France and Italy.
A robust wine list helps to fulfill Le Jeune Chef’s role in offering “an education in fine dining.” It provides opportunities for the students to learn about wine service and food-and-wine pairings, and it benefits patrons who wish to learn more about wine.
The restaurant is temporarily closed due to the pandemic but will reopen for takeout and private events on Aug. 17, when students return to campus. (See the restaurant’s website and social media sites for updates and details.)
DiSalvo’s Restaurant, also in Williamsport, is recognized on Wine Spectator’s 2020 Restaurant Awards list, as well.
To learn more about Penn College’s degrees in baking, pastry and culinary arts, call 570-327-4505.
For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
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