Peter A. Ryan, Nicoles Restaurant, Killington, VT

Ryan's dedication surpasses the ordinary. Still in his mid-thirties, he has a wealth of work experience, culinary awards and restaurant-related activities to his credit. In 1982, he was a gold medal winner in the International Crab Cooking Olympics held in Baltimore. He has also been retained by the Vermont Dept. of Agriculture to represent the state's culinary expertise both regionally and nationally. In 1985, he and his partner Detlev Martitsch-Kreiner began to wholesale fresh pasta to area restaurants and stores through their Gourmet Trend fresh pasta shop, where they also offer cooking classes.