Otto Borsich is living proof that one person can make a difference.  Armed with sheer iron will and a wealth of culinary expertise this Patriot remains persistent in his quest to bring attention to the severity of hunger in America and the world.  His slogan “have knives will travel” is befitting.  At the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas he initiated a food rescue program to donate excess food to the Red Cross.  He also organized an event on the lawn at the Government House (Bahamian White House) feeding hundreds of impoverished citizens.  In Vero Beach, Florida, Borsich organized the Vero Beach Victory Dinner; a gourmet fundraiser which generated thousands of dollars for the Coalition for the Homeless of Indian River County.  On Nantucket Island he created the Nantucket Chefs Food Festival, a multi course gastronomic affair featuring the islands best chefs.   All proceeds were donated to the Nantucket Emergency Food Pantry, the event is still going strong after its inception in 1992.

In Hyde Park, NY, employed as a Chef Instructor at the Culinary Institute of America to observe World Food Day he challenged the entire campus to “Pitch in a Pound and Raise a Ton”.  The objective was to pitch in a pound of non-perishable food and collect a ton.  Participation was extraordinary and over a metric ton of food was donated to the Hyde Park Emergency Food Pantry.  Additionally he organized students to cook and serve hot meals for the hungry in Poughkeepsie.  In NYC he organized trips for underprivileged children to the Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum and the United Nations while providing a nutritious lunch after the experience.  He has delivered his message to schools across the nation.  While living in Las Vegas he volunteered monthly to provide a hot breakfast for inner city school children and also served as co-chair of the SOS Taste of the Nation event in Las Vegas.

On a national level Chef Otto was the catalyst behind Childhood Hunger Day in Washington DC.  Chefs from all over the nation converged on Capital Hill for a three-day symposium on hunger and poverty legislation.  Since 1993 Borsich has been on crusade to create a FEAST (Feed Every American Starting Today) on the White House Lawn on October 16, World Food Day.  The vision of FEAST is to have 50 chefs, one from each state to unite on the White House lawn and create a meal for those who are truly in need.  This meal will showcase the very best of our nation’s bounty providing educational and cultural insight into American Regional Cuisine while rededicating our nation’s efforts to eliminate hunger.  FEAST has the support of prominent politicians and scores of other public figures, celebrity chefs and concerned citizens. 

Borsich is tenacious; determined to make a difference.  After 16 years of the Clinton and Bush administrations non committal replies Borsich remains resolute as ever.  He truly believes President Obama and his message of “Yes We Can” will be the difference.  His role as a contestant on Bravos Emmy nominated Top Chef Season 2 provides notoriety as he continues to be a Champion against hunger. Borsich has worked in some of America’s finest establishments, the Pierre Hotel, Le Bernadin, the Gotham Bar and Grill, the Bellagio Hotel, and Charlie Trotters. He is a proud Navy Veteran and served as a cook onboard the nuclear submarine USS Patrick Henry in Pearl Harbor.