Chef's Toque Society

About the Chef's Toque Society

Retired ici® Executive Chef Robert Anderson is a member of the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque, an elite group of American chefs honored for their work in culinary education and the restaurant industry. He is one of only 99 chefs in America with this distinction and the society’s only working chef from Iowa. Chef Anderson introduced the Toque Society to DMACC to recognize those who support the college’s culinary arts program through their generous gifts.

You can make a lasting difference on the careers of aspiring chefs by becoming a member of the exclusive ici® Chef’s Toque Society.  Here is your chance to support our students’ calling in life … and enjoy the honor of this society. ​

Read more about the ici® Chef's Toque Society in the ici® Experience magazine.​

Toque Recognition

​​​​T​hrough your support to the DMACC Culinary Arts program, you can become an ici® Chef's Toque Society member.

We have established six recognition categories for Toque Society members.

  • Receive a special Titanium Toque pin
  • Have all privileges listed below for Diamond Toques PLUS
  • Attend a gourmet dinner of your choice with 6 guests at your own table. Your 8 tickets will be paid by the ici®.

  • Receive a Diamond Toque pin
  • Have all privileges listed below for Platinum Toques PLUS
  • Be guaranteed a table at all dinners of your choice for the following academic year’s Gourmet Dinner Series*
  • Attend a gourmet dinner of your choice with 4 guests (may include a French Chef Dinner) and be seated with DMACC President Rob Denson and his wife Pat. Your 6 tickets will be paid by the ici®.*

*Based on availability after Titanium Toques

  • Receive a Platinum Toque pin
  • Have all privileges listed below for Gold Toques PLUS
  • Be guaranteed 6 reservations at the dinner of your choice
  • Have first chance to reserve 4 places for the following academic year’s Fleming’s Dinner*
  • Have a chance to reserve 4 places for the following academic year’s French Chefs’ Dinner*
  • Have a chance to reserve 4 places for the following academic year’s Annual Culinary Tour of France*
  • Receive free knife sharpening two times per year

*Based on availability after Titanium and Diamond Toques

  • Receive a Gold Toque pin
  • Have all privileges listed below for Silver Toques PLUS
  • Receive an invitation to join ici® students, faculty and the French Chefs on the Annual Culinary Trip (previous trips have included visits to Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Charleston)*
  • Receive an invitation to the following academic year’s Annual DMACC World Food Prize Dinner, (NOT open to the public)*
  • Receive free knife sharpening one time per year

*Based on availability after Titanium, Diamond and Platinum Toques

  • Receive a Silver Toque pin
  • Have all privileges listed below for Bronze Toques PLUS
  • Be guaranteed 4 reservations at the dinner of your choice
  • Have a chance to reserve 2 places for the following academic year’s Fleming’s Dinner*
  • Have a chance to reserve 2 places for the following academic year’s French Chefs’ Dinner*
  • Receive advance notice of the fall and spring gourmet dinner schedule 

*Based on availability after Titanium, Diamond, Platinum and Gold Toques

  • ​Receive a Bronze Toque pin
  • Receive recognition in the bi-annual edition of the ici® Experience booklet
  • Have a chance to reserve 2 places for the Annual Culinary Tour of France*

*Based on availability after Titanium, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Toques

Additional Membe​​rship Options

You also can become an ici® Toque Society member through your support of ici®'s gourmet dinner series or donate items for ici® Silent Auction to support the French Chef Exchange Program. Contact the ici® office at 515-964-6477 for more details.

Support Hospital​​​ity Careers

Do you want to make a lasting difference on the careers of aspiring chefs? Friends of ici® are offered the honor to be part of the exclusive ici® Chef's Toque Society. Here is your chance to support our students' calling in life… and enjoy the honor of this society.

Make a gift