John Folse - Awards and Recognition

Awards and Recognition

• 1987, the Louisiana Restaurant Association named him “Louisiana Restaurateur of the Year.”
• 1989, Nation’s Restaurant News inducted Lafitte’s Landing Restaurant into its “Fine Dining Hall of Fame.”
• 1990, the American Culinary Federation (ACF) named Folse the “National Chef of the Year.”
• 1992, Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., recognized Folse with an honorary doctorate of Culinary Arts, as did Baltimore International Culinary College in 1995.
• 1994, he assumed the role as national president of the American Culinary Federation, the largest organization of professional chefs in America.
• 1995, Folse was one of 50 people recognized in Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Profiles of Power.”
• 1996, Lafitte’s Landing Restaurant received the Award of Excellence from Distinguished Restaurants of North America. (Folse served two terms as DiRōNA Chairman from 2000 to 2001.)
• 1998, Chef John Folse & Company Manufacturing received TGI Friday’s Inc. Procurement Product Development Award for assisting in the development of Friday’s Jack Daniels© Glaze.
• 1998, Food Arts magazine awarded Folse the “Silver Spoon Award” for his sterling performance and contributions to the food service industry.
• 1999, the Research Chefs Association (RCA) named Chef John Folse & Company "Pioneers in Culinology" because of the efforts of Folse's culinary research team.
• 2001, Folse was elected to RCA’s Board of Directors and served as RCA president from 2005-2007.
• 2011, Chef John Folse & Company Manufacturing received TGI Friday's Inc. "Food Vendor of the Year" Award.
• November 1999, the Acadiana Chapter of the American Culinary Federation inducted Folse into the Louisiana Chef's Hall of Fame for his lifetime contributions to the promotion of Louisiana cuisine.
• November 2000, the Antonin Carême Medal and has served on the National Dairy Council Chef’s Advisory Panel.
• 2007, American Judge for the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest in Lyon, France.
• October 2008, the Louisiana Governor’s Cultural Economic Development Arts Award and Southern Foodways Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award.
• August 2011, honored with the Grace “Mama” Marino Lifetime Achievement Award by Baton Rouge Epicurean Society
• December 2011, Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from NSU.

Folse serves as the Marketing Specialist on the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board. He is a member of Chaines des Rotisseurs, and also on the Sister Dulce Foundation Board.