[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 80 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E421-E422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING CINDY PAWLCYN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cindy 
Pawlcyn and the 40th anniversary of her landmark wine-country 
restaurant, Mustards Grill. Her success as a restauranteur in wine 
country has brought great pride to Napa Valley and California's 4th 
Congressional District.
  Ms. Pawlcyn was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to an accomplished 
culinary family, where she fostered an interest in the culinary field 
from a young age. At 13 years old, she was helping in her mother's 
kitchen and working at a local cooking and equipment store. She went on 
to run a catering business throughout high school, and later obtained 
her degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of 
Wisconsin-Stout. She then augmented her formal training with courses at 
Le Cordon Bleu and La Varenne in Paris. After her time in Paris, she 
worked at multiple esteemed restaurants in Chicago and Minneapolis, 
including Chicago's great restaurant the Pump Room.
  After entering Napa Valley's culinary community as the opening chef 
at Meadowood in St. Helena, California, Ms. Pawlcyn launched her 
legendary restaurant Mustards Grill in 1983. Named after the mustard 
flowers that bloom in Napa's vineyards, Mustards Grill is a community 
favorite for unique dishes and world-class wine. Ms. Pawlcyn installed 
an organic garden at the restaurant which not only inspires a seasonal 
menu but also provides 20 percent of the restaurant's produce year-
round.
  Since opening Mustards Grill, Ms. Pawlcyn has been involved in the 
creation of many heralded restaurants in the greater San Francisco Bay 
Area including Fog City Diner, Bix, Roti, Betelnut, Buckeye Roadhouse, 
Cindy's

[[Page E422]]

Backstreet Kitchen, Go Fish, Cindy's Waterfront at the Monterey Bay 
Aquarium, and Mustards Grill-SFO. She is a three-time finalist for the 
James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Restaurateur Award. Ms. Pawlcyn is 
also the author of five cookbooks, including Mustards Grill Napa Valley 
Cookbook, which won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best American 
Cookbook. Moreover, she is a recipient of the Robert Mondavi Award for 
Culinary Excellence and the Fine Beverage & Food Federation's Career 
Achievement Award.
  Despite a near fatal car accident and a fire that destroyed her home, 
Ms. Pawlcyn's list of achievements reflects her tenacity, perseverance, 
and passion for the culinary industry. She shares her success with 
managing partner Sean Knight, who has brilliant business skills and a 
love for hospitality, and Executive Chef Michael Forster who works 
incredibly hard to surpass the expectations of Mustards Grill's guests.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that Cindy Pawlcyn and Mustards Grill 
have made incredible contributions to Napa County's food culture over 
the past 40 years. It is therefore fitting that we honor them here 
today.

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