Chef Klaus Tenbergen, culinary science professor at California State University, Fresno and a master baker, has earned the Master Certified Food Executive (MCFE) certification from the International Food Service Executives Association

“The MCFE Certification is the highest, most difficult test, and the most prestigious to attain,” said Dr. Dennis Ferris, chair of the Food Sciences and Nutrition Department at Fresno State, who announced the news today. “This is a distinguished accomplishment for Chef Tenbergen. The department and the university are honored to have his expertise as part of our culinary science academic program.”

Tenbergen joined the Fresno State faculty in December, bringing more than 30 years of industry and higher-education experience. With the Food Science Department, he has laid the foundation for a university program in Culinology®, which blends culinary arts and food science.

Last fall, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State joined a growing number of universities and colleges around the country offering Culinology degrees, offering students a rare opportunity to practice and study culinary research.

Culinology chefs and food scientists work in research and development, food manufacturing, chain restaurants, hotels, ingredient supply houses, consulting and academia.

Since he began his career as an apprentice baker in Germany, Tenbergen has become a certified master baker in Germany, South Africa and the United States, operated a fine-dining restaurant in Peoria, Ill., and owned a bakery/coffee shop in Pretoria, South Africa.

He is certified through the American Culinary Federation (ACF), was a department chair at Kendall College’s School of Culinary Arts in Chicago and has published numerous articles about food trends and developments.

He is on the board of directors of the ACF Chef’s Association of San Joaquin Valley, a professional organization for chefs, cooks, culinary educators and culinary related professionals in the foodservice industry.

Tenbergen’s recent activities include a lecture and demonstration on “Decorating with Chocolate” at an ACF educational meeting and a guest appearance on the Peter Laufer radio talk show that airs on KPFA, KPFB and KFCF. Listen to the program online at

http://kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=21367.

For additional information, contact Ferris or Tenbergen at 559.278.2164.

For more information contained in this release, please go to the following Web site(s):

Culinology Press Release

Chef Klaus Tenbergen Web Site

Food Science and Nutrition Department