Andrew Ryland Spurgin

Executive Director/Chef, Waters Fine Catering

Spurgin has built a culinary career spanning three decades. He has designed and prepared menus and events honoring dignitaries from U.S. Presidents Clinton and Reagan, Soviet Union President Gorbachev, and Israeli Prime Minister Peres, to California Governors Wilson and Davis, and Martha Stewart. Some of his regular clients include Tiffany & Co., San Diego Symphony and Callaway Golf.

Among his many accolades, he and Waters recently earned a coveted ACE Award for Best Caterer in the West for 2009 from Catersource Magazine. Spurgin has also been honored by Event Solutions Magazine with a national Spotlight Award as Caterer of the Year.

A champion of sustainable, handcrafted, organic, and regional foods, Spurgin grew up in London, working in his relative's restaurant and butcher shop. After his family moved to the States, he pursued a career in food. He was director of catering at Southern California's celebrated Piret's, and at several other respected catering firms. Spurgin has consulted and cooked with London's Mustard Catering Ltd. and has been tutored by the cheesemongers at Neal's Yard Dairy, also in London.

He lectures regularly on sustainability, cooking and entertaining, and his events, interviews and photos have been featured across all media. In 2001, to address growing concern for the environment, he co-founded passionfish.org, an innovative educational concern addressing seafood sustainability issues.

Spurgin sits on the Advisory Board of Catering Magazine and Catersource Magazine. He is a past member of the Director's Cabinet for Scripps Institution of Oceanography and is an E.W. Scripps Associate. Currently, he is working with other educators, marine biologists, fishermen and chefs on a national project for the Blue Ocean Institute's "Green Chefs, Blue Ocean" program, developing a national curriculum for culinary students and continuing education for chefs. He also has been a guest chef at the renowned James Beard House in New York City.

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Learn more about Andrew Ryland Spurgin at www.waterscatering.com/