BlueStar(TM) and Acclaimed Chef Marcus Samuelsson to Host Live Cooking Event in San Francisco

READING, Pa., May. 05 /PRNewswire/ --

READING, Pa., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueStar(TM), manufacturer of high- performance gas ranges and cooktops for the residential market, announced today that renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson will host a live cooking event in San Francisco on June 26th, 2008, marking BlueStar's official San Francisco / Bay Area launch.

At this exclusive reception to be held at Terra SF, in San Francisco's SOMA district, Samuelsson will prepare hand-picked recipes from his newly opened, New York-based Merkato 55 restaurant. As a BlueStar owner himself, Samuelsson will demonstrate how BlueStar commercial-quality ranges can take cooking in the home kitchen to an entirely new level. Guests will have the opportunity to sample the Chef's creations - and test the performance of a BlueStar range for themselves. Notes Chef Samuelsson, "With technology and performance usually only found in professional ranges, BlueStar is the only true restaurant range for the home."

Chef Samuelsson's culinary creations reflect his unique life experiences. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden by adoptive parents, Samuelsson gains inspiration from around the world. His acclaimed Aquavit restaurant in New York City features Scandinavian cuisine, while his latest cookbook "The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa," and Merkato 55 restaurant focus on the continent of his birth.

Originally a manufacturer of high-powered commercial ranges, BlueStar now markets exclusively to the residential market and is featured in the homes of many of the world's top chefs and cooking enthusiasts. The ranges are stacked with features generally restricted to professional chefs, but designed for the home kitchen. BlueStar's unique 22,000 BTU open burner system is the most powerful open burner on the market. The ability to custom order a BlueStar(TM) range with a choice of 190 custom colors opens up amazing new possibilities for kitchen makeovers.

Samuelsson, 36, has received numerous accolades, including the James Beard Foundation award for "Rising Star Chef", and "Best Chef" New York. He was also recognized in Crain's New York Business' annual "40 under 40" and was celebrated as one of "The Great Chefs of America" by The Culinary Institute of America.

"We are honored to have one of the world's most prominent chefs host our San Francisco launch event," says Keith Wolf, Vice President of Marketing, BlueStar, "and we look forward to helping more people become the best cooks they can, whether they're aspiring chefs, cooking enthusiasts, or just enjoy firing up the stove during the holidays."

The June 26th event is open to BlueStar dealers and select media - consumers can sign up on the BlueStar website for a chance to attend this exclusive event: http://www.bluestarcooking.com/form_marcus_event.html

For more information, or interviews contact: Michele Zelman, Cherry Leaf Communications, 718-859-6766 or information@bluestarcooking.com

About BlueStar

BlueStar(TM) - The Only Genuine Restaurant Range for the Home(TM) - manufactures high-performance gas ranges and cooktops for the residential market. The company's unique open burner system produces 22,000 BTU of cooking power, resulting in shorter cooking times and an even simmer. Each BlueStar(TM) range is hand-crafted in Reading, Pennsylvania and features burners that can be custom configured at the time of order. Most BlueStar(TM) models are available in 190 colors, at no extra charge. For more information, please visit www.bluestarcooking.com.