Friends of University Indulge in Food and Stories of Travel

Renowned travel expert Rick Steves’ travels brought him to Concordia on Friday, Nov. 9 for convocation. This gave Concordia and President Bob Holst special occasion to serve as dinner hosts to a few friends of the University.

Six couples enjoyed a European inspired gourmet dinner prepared by Organizational Management and Communication major Dan Ritter ’08.Ritter has been cooking since the age of 15. He began as a prep cook in his brother’s L.A. restaurant and has since graduated from the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, studied and worked in France, Italy, and South Africa, and formally apprenticed under famed chef Julian Serrano of Picasso Restaurant at the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. In 2007, Ritter was elected to sit on the New England Culinary Institutes’ Alumni Association Board of Directors.

After the meal, President Holst shared accounts of his world travels. The couples also attended Steves’ presentation giving an overview of his extensive European travels over the last 25 years. Using those experiences, he has authored 30 European travel guidebooks and hosts the PBS-TV series “Rick Steves’ Europe.” His lessons have helped millions of Americans not only enjoy maximum travel thrills per mile, minute and euro, but become better world citizens.