About the Authors Frederic H. Sonnenschmidt, a certified master chef, is Culinary Dean at The Culinary Institute of America. A member of the 1976 United States National Culinary Team at the Food Olympics in Frankfurt, Frederic Sonnenschmidt has won two gold medals and has been the recipient of 20 first prizes in various culinary competitions. In addition, he held the 1973 Escoffier Chair for Culinary Excellence, and was Team Captain of the New York Culinary team at the Food Olympics in 1984 and 1988. John F. Nicolas, a cum laude graduate of the Hotel School of Paris, is currently a consultant to the hospitality industry.