By LAUREN MCDONALD lmcdonald@goldenisles.news
College of Coastal Georgia recently brought on Chef Daniel Zeal, the executive chef for The Lodge at Sea Island, as the college’s first executive chef scholar in residence in culinary arts.
College and Sea Island Co. officials have signed a memorandum of understanding creating a new residency that will replicate the current artist in residence program at the college.
Zeal’s residency began on May 1 and will end on June 1, 2018.
Zeal will serve as an advisor and will be involved in guest lecturing, student/faculty project consultation, mentoring and public presentations on campus.
“It’s an opportunity for him to teach and collaborate with our chefs to enhance program activities, and an opportunity for our students to work with other chefs on Sea Island, visit facilities and potentially work events and be engaged in the life of Sea Island,” said Tracy Pellett, provost and vice president for academic affairs at CCGA.
Zeal said he sees this as an opportunity to continue his combined passion for cooking and teaching.
“My early career was teaching informally, so for me, operating at a 5-star level helps me bring real-world experience to the theoretical and practical applications students are exploring in their coursework,” he said.
Zeal began working at Sea Island in 2006 as sous chef in the Georgia Room. He became the chef de cuisine in 2009.
He moved into his current role as executive chef at The Lodge in 2016.
“I’m looking forward to Danny giving students a different perspective on their careers, offering them real-world experience and getting them thrilled to go to class,” said CCGA Chef Steve Ingersoll.
The new residency will expand the college’s culinary arts program further into the campus community, said Greg Aloia, CCGA’s president.
“It is our hope that this program expands into a much broader and richer relationship with Sea Island in the near future,” Aloia said.
The program aims to more directly connect businesses and industries with CCGA’s students and programs, Pellett said.
“Connecting students with a 5-star kitchen is an opportunity of a lifetime and we are greatly appreciative of Danny and Sea Island for allowing this partnership to commence,” Pellett said.