Remembering Craig Rutman

For 14 years, The Monroe Foundation hosted an annual fundraising dinner in honor of the late Craig Rutman, the first Director of the Monroe College Culinary Arts program.

Those who knew Chef Rutman appreciated his passion for his craft and his dedication to sharing all he knew with his students.  

Craig’s vision was instrumental in providing students with the unique experience of a semester abroad in Italy, where they trained and studied at the Barilla Institute and practiced both their culinary and Italian language skills.

Craig would indeed be pleased to witness how his program has grown, under the talented leadership of Dr. Frank Costantino, into the Culinary Institute of New York and the popular student-run restaurant, The Dining Lab.  

The Monroe Foundation remembers and honors Craig Rutman for his vision and his commitment to student learning and engagement by funding an annual scholarship, in his name, to an outstanding student in the Monroe College Culinary Institute of New York  program.