Nicholls culinary institute will bear Hamers' name

The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute will rename its student lounge and culinary library in honor of Morgan City restaurateurs Brenda and Gregory Hamer Sr. 
The Hamers donated $50,000 to the institute, which will be used to buy and maintain state-of-the-art kitchen and cooking equipment for students.
The lounge will be named the Gregory and Brenda Hamer Family/Taco Bell Student Lounge and Research Center.  
Brenda and Gregory Hamer Sr. created B&G Food Enterprises in 1982 when they opened their first Taco Bell in Morgan City.
Today, B&G operates more than 150 Taco Bell restaurants across Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. They are the largest Taco Bell franchisee in Louisiana. 
“By supplying our students with the latest in culinary technology, they will be better prepared to enter the workforce when they graduate,” said Chef John Kozar, department head and assistant culinary professor.
“The Hamer Family has long supported the culinary institute, and I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done for our students.” 
Hamer Sr. is the emeritus director of the National Restaurant Association and past chairman of the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
He also served as the president of the Louisiana Restaurant Association and was elected to the association's Hall of Fame in 2002. 
Their son, Gregory Hamer Jr., was in the first Chef John Folse Culinary Institute graduating class. 
For more information on the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, visit https://www.nicholls.edu/culinary.