SUNY Niagara Alumnus to Compete in WNY’s Taste of Education Iron Chef Champions Competition

February 28, 2020

SUNY Niagara Alumnus Alexander Dispence will compete in this year’s WNY Taste of Education Iron Chef Champions Competition on Tuesday, March 10^th at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens. Three previous winners of the Iron Chef Competition will compete to be named the best-of-the-best!

Growing up, Alex said that food has always been a big part of his life. “I loved watching Food Network and especially Iron Chef America,” he said. “It was so amazing to see what everyday food items can be transformed into!” From there, Alex began working in the food industry in 2009. “I knew that this was my passion,” he said, “and that I was willing to work hard to be successful in it.”

In order to achieve his goals, Alex recognized that he needed to receive an education. “I toured SUNY Niagara and NFCI and was so impressed with all that they had to offer their students! I was excited to be a part of it.” Alex graduated from the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute with his degree in Culinary Arts in 2013 and to this day continues to thank his instructors for the impact they had on him. “There were so many instructors from NFCI who became mentors to me that I can’t name them all; I am so thankful for all the positive influence they had on me. While I’m cooking, I think about how I want to make them proud so I try to prepare the best dish possible every time.”

Upon graduation, Alex has worked in some of America’s most prestigious clubs and resorts such as the Greenbrier in White Sulpher Springs, WV as well as The Vintage Club in Indian Wells, CA and Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester. He even worked as a live-in private chef in the Hamptons and Manhattan. Currently, Alex is the Executive Chef at Byrncliff Golf Resort & Banquets. When asked how it feels to have achieved so much success already, Alex continues to stay humble. “I am honored to have been selected to compete in this year’s competition and to make it to this point in my career. It’s important to me that I always keep growing so that I can continue to make my family, friends, peers, and mentors proud of me.”

To watch Alex compete in this year’s competition or for more information on the event, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-education-tickets-91254323137.