American Culinary Federation Announces 2014 National Award Winners

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF) honored chefs, culinary industry professionals and foodservice establishments at the 2014 ACF National Convention, hosted by ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association in Kansas City, Missouri, July 25-29.

More than 1,000 chefs, cooks, students and foodservice professionals attended the annual event held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The ACF national convention provided attendees with opportunities to advance their professional development and enhance their culinary skills through hands-on workshops and seminars, cutting-edge demonstrations, a trade show featuring nearly 100 exhibitors, national competitions and ACF's national awards.

This year's presenters included Pat LaFrieda, third-generation meat purveyor and owner of Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, North Bergen, New Jersey, who demonstrated the art of butchery; Jacquy Pfeiffer, co-founder/academic dean for student affairs, The French Pastry School, Chicago, who shared his knowledge and expertise for making desserts; and Becky Wortman, chef/owner, Imagine Something Sweet, Clayton, Washington, and one of Dessert Professional's 2014 Top Ten Cake Artists in America, who demonstrated the art of sculpting buttercream showpieces.

During General Session, July 26, Rochelle Trotter, wife of the late renowned chef Charlie Trotter, HHOF, announced that the Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation will donate $25,000 to the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation for culinary-arts education scholarships.

General Session included a panel tribute to Charlie Trotter by former employees and colleagues who shared memories of working with Trotter and outlined their plans for The Trotter Project, an initiative to promote culinary arts, service and education. Homaro Cantu, chef/owner, Moto, Chicago, who was also a panel member, gave a molecular gastronomy-inspired culinary demonstration.

At national convention chefs faced off in several ACF national competitions, demonstrating their culinary skills and leadership. ACF also presented awards to chefs and establishments for advancing the culinary industry and profession. Below are the 2014 ACF award winners and honorees:

U.S.A.'s Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions
Timothy Prefontaine, CEC, executive chef, The Fort Worth Club, Fort Worth, Texas; ACF national member

ACF Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Plugra European-Style Butter
Stephan Schubert, executive pastry chef, River City Casino & Hotel, St. Louis; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.

Chef Educator of the Year
Jean Yves Vendeville, CEPC, department chair/instructor, Savannah Technical College, Savannah, Georgia; ACF Chefs of the Low Country

Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc.
Chase Grove, chef de partie, The Grey Plume, Omaha, Nebraska; student, The Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College, Omaha; ACF Professional Chefs and Culinarians of the Heartland

Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by MINOR'S
Michael Garbin, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Union League Club of Chicago, Chicago; ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc.

Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award
Hartmut Handke, CMC, AAC, chef/owner, Culinary Fast-Trac, Dublin, Ohio; ACF Columbus Chapter

Student Team National Championship, sponsored by R.L. Schreiber, Inc.
ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association; Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas; Raquel Kramer, Katie O'Connor, Matt Phillips, Kathryn Ratzlaff and Jessica Seely; Felix Sturmer, coach

Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by American Technical Publishers and US Foods
Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, North Carolina; ACF North Carolina Chapter; Aisha Boston, Jessica Bower, Alexia D'Egidio and Michael Nasrallah; Linda Beitz and Patrick Sanecki, CHE, coaches

ACF Industry Partnership Award
Plugra European-Style Butter; Kansas City, Missouri

ACF National Chapter of the Year
ACF Monterey Bay Chapter; Monterey, California

ACF Region of the Year
ACF Western Region

Culinary Community Spirit Award
Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association; Detroit

World of Thanks Award
ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association; Kansas City, Missouri

ACF President's Medallion Recipients
L. Edwin Brown, HAAC, HHOF, ACF ambassador, St. Augustine, Florida; ACF Pittsburgh Chapter
Russell Campbell, CEC, army sustainment command food advisor, U.S. Army, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois; Old Dominion ACF Chapter
Charles Carroll, CEC, AAC, executive chef, River Oaks Country Club, Houston; ACF Professional Chefs Association of Houston
Biagio Dente, CEC, AAC, HOF, retired, Pittston, Pennsylvania; ACF Professional Chefs of Northeast Pennsylvania
Jim Douglas, CEC, CCE, AAC, HOF, retired, Marysville, Washington; ACF Washington State Chefs Association
Roger Kelly, CEC, AAC, instructor, The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Philadelphia; ACF Philadelphia Delaware Valley Chefs Association
Victor Kendlehart, CC, restaurants supervisor, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Bowling Green, Florida; ACF national member
Adam Hagar, CSC, CPC, instructor assistant, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio; ACF Columbus Chapter
Harry Hoffstadt, CEC, AAC, HOF, retired, Tinley Park, Illinois; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.
Paul O'Toole, CEC, AAC, executive chef, The Cliffs at Glassy, Landrum, South Carolina; ACF Philadelphia Delaware Valley Chefs Association
Lisa Ramsey, CEC, CEPC, chef instructor, The Art Institute of Tennessee—Nashville, Tennessee; ACF Middle Tennessee Chapter
Tene Shake, owner, Tene Shake Signature Restaurants, Monterey, California; ACF Monterey Bay Chapter
The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York

Cutting Edge Award Recipients
Bob Brassard, Jr., CEC, culinary educator, Broadmoor Technical Center—Shawnee Mission School District, Overland Park, Kansas; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association
Mike Allen Chrostowski, culinary-arts instructor, Olathe Public Schools Culinary Arts Program, Olathe, Kansas; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association
Virgil Emmert, CEC, CCA, executive chef, Oak Ridge Hotel & Conference Center, Chaska, Minnesota; ACF Minneapolis Chefs Chapter
Dwight Ferguson, vice president business development, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin; ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc.
Michael Kester, CEC, CCA, AAC, Southeast area training manager, Sodexo, Columbia, South Carolina; ACF Midlands Chapter
Ray McCue, CEC, assistant professor, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island; ACF Rhode Island Chapter
Brandon Parry, CEC, executive chef, United States Navy, Honolulu; ACF Honolulu Chapter
Michael Scott, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Northwood Club, Dallas; Texas Chefs Association
Robert White, CEC^¨, CCA, AAC, national director of culinary operations, The Goodman Group, Chaska, Minnesota; ACF Minneapolis Chefs Chapter

Achievement of Excellence Awards
American Bounty Restaurant, The Culinary Institute of America; Hyde Park, New York
Cafe Reconcile; New Orleans
Capers; Little Rock, Arkansas
Cyrano's Farm Kitchen; Chicago                                           
David's 388; South Portland, Maine 
Mamma Maria's Pizzeria & Ristorante; Bensenville, Illinois
Monastero's Ristorante & Banquets; Chicago    
M.Y. China; San Francisco                                                   
Myers Park Country Club; Charlotte, North Carolina  
Old Fisherman's Grotto; Monterey, California                                                            
Pizzalley's Chianti Room; St. Augustine, Florida
Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar; Chicago  
Remington Tavern and Seafood Exchange; North Tonawanda, New York
R'evolution; New Orleans
Ristorante Caterina de' Medici & Al Forno Trattoria, The Culinary Institute of America; Hyde Park, New York 
Siro Urban Italian Kitchen; Orlando, Florida 
The Bocuse Restaurant, The Culinary Institute of America; Hyde Park, New York
The Gatesworth; St. Louis                                         
The Sardine Factory; Monterey, California                                                                               
The Signature Room at the 95^th; Chicago

American Academy of Chefs^¨  (AAC) Awards

AAC Chair's Medal
Mark Wright, CEC, AAC, department chair of hospitality management, Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York; ACF of Greater Buffalo New York

Lawrence A. Conti, CEC, AAC, HOF, Chair's Achievement Award
Salvatore Campagna, CEC, HAAC, retired, San Carlos, California; ACF San Francisco Chapter

Joseph Amendola Award
Gale O'Malley, CEPC, AAC, pastry chef instructor, Kapi'olani Community College, Honolulu; ACF Honolulu Chapter

Chef Good Taste Award
Scott Gilbert, CEC, AAC, director of culinary, Custom Culinary, Inc.; Lombard, Illinois; ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc.

Lt. General John D. McLaughlin Award
Russell Campbell, CEC, army sustainment command food advisor, U.S. Army, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois; Old Dominion ACF Chapter

Sharing Culinary Traditions Award
Thomas Recinella, CEC, AAC, program director of culinary and beverage management, The Culinary Institute of Michigan of Port Huron, Port Huron, Michigan; ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association

Celebrated Chef
Rick Moonen, chef/owner, rm seafood, Las Vegas

AAC Culinary Hall of Fame
Harry Brockwell, CEC, AAC, HOF, corporate consulting chef, Westlake Village, California; Ventura Chefs Association
Fawzi Ottman, CEC, AAC, HOF, executive chef, Odyssey Country Club, Tinley Park, Illinois; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.
Leopold Schaeli, CMC^¨, AAC^¨, HOF, retired, West Bloomfield, Michigan; ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association

AAC Honorary Culinary Hall of Fame
Jim Singerling, HAAC, HBOT, HHOF, chief executive officer, Club Managers Association of America, Alexandria, Virginia; ACF Nation's Capital Chefs Association

AAC Fellows
Darrin Aoyama, CEPC, AAC, executive pastry chef, River Oaks Country Club, Houston; ACF Professional Chefs Association of Houston
Mark Brown, CEC, CCA, AAC, executive chef, Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, Oklahoma City; The Southwest Florida Chapter of the ACF
Jesse Cobb, CEC, AAC, corporate executive chef, Nestle Professional, Naperville, Illinois; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.
Mark Cochran, CEC, CCA, CFBE, AAC, culinary instructor, Culinary Arts Institute of Platt College, Oklahoma City; ACF Culinary Arts Society of Oklahoma
Claudio Ferrer, CEC, CCE, AAC, corporate chef, Electrolux North, Latin America and the Caribbean, Charlotte, North Carolina; owner/chef, Kiko's Catering LLC, Naples, Florida; ACF Caxambas Chapter of Naples & Marco Island
Thomas Hunt, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Columbus Culinary Institute—Bradford School, Columbus, Ohio; ACF Columbus Chapter
Jeffrey Mitchell, CEC, CCA, AAC, executive chef of culinary and nutritional services, St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, New York; ACF Syracuse New York Chapter
M. Glenn Pruden, CEC, AAC, assistant director/executive chef, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia; ACF Virginia Chefs Association
Michael Rigberg, CEC, CCA, AAC, chef instructor/executive chef, Land O'Lakes High School—Pasco Country School District, Land O'Lakes, Florida; ACF Tampa Bay Culinary Association, Inc.
Paul Santaularia, CEC, CCE, AAC, culinary-arts instructor, Northland Career Center, Platte City, Missouri; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association
Fred Wright, CEC, AAC, chef/instructor, Washoe County School District, Reno, Nevada; ACF High Sierra Chefs Association

AAC Honorary Fellows
Elizabeth Bergin, HAAC, vice president/creative director, Michel Bouit International Inc., Chicago; and owner/designer, Elizabeth Bergin Enterprises, Inc., Chicago; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.
Mark Eggerding, HAAC, vice president of product sales and culinary education, US Foods, Rosemont, Illinois
Todd Hatoff, HAAC, president, Allen Brothers, Chicago
Addiemae Rolle-Farrington, HAAC, chef lecturer, The College of the Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas; Bahamas Culinary Association
Felix Sturmer, HAAC, culinary instructor, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association

ACF Culinary Youth Team USA
Megan Bamford, pastry cook, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Kristyn Chatlosh, student, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois; ACF Louis Joliet Chapter
Jordan Gardiner, demi chef, Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte, North Carolina; ACF North Carolina Chapter
Tracy Morris, pastry cook, Chevy Chase Club, Chevy Chase, Maryland; ACF Rhode Island Chapter
Jesus Olmedo, line cook, Somerset Club, Boston; ACF Epicurean Club of Boston
Josh Page, line cook, Grandfather Golf & Country Club, Linville, North Carolina; ACF North Carolina Chapter
Lydia Ross, CC, student, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, North Carolina; ACF North Carolina Chapter
Trae Shriner, student ambassador, Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, Coos Bay, Oregon; and line cook, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Oregon; ACF Bay Area Chefs Association of Oregon

2014 ACF National Convention Sponsors are: ACE Bakery, LLC; Alabama Gulf Seafood; Allen Brothers, Inc.; American Technical Publishers; Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water; Barry Callebaut; BelGioioso Cheese, Inc.; Browne Foodservice; Campbell's Culinary & Baking Institute; Canada Cutlery Inc.; Central Region State Beef Councils; Chef Rubber; Custom Culinary, Inc.; Ecolab; Grey Poupon; Idaho Potato Commission; Johnson & Wales University; Lactalis Foodservice; Lang Manufacturing Company; MINOR'S; National Pasteurized Eggs, Inc.; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc.; Par-Way Tryson, makers of Vegalene; Plant Based Foods, Inc.; Plugra European-Style Butter; R.L. Schreiber, Inc.; S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water; Sysco; THE FRENCH'S FOOD COMPANY; Tyson Food Service; Unilever Food Solutions; US Foods; Valrhona; Victorinox Swiss Army; Villeroy & Boch; Vita Craft Corporation; Vitamix Corporation; Wayne Farms LLC; Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

About the American Culinary Federation
The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), established in 1929, is the standard of excellence for chefs in North America. With nearly 20,000 members spanning 200 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States, with the Certified Executive Chef, Certified Sous Chef, Certified Executive Pastry Chef and Certified Culinary Educator designations accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org. Find ACF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ACFChefs and on Twitter @ACFChefs.

Editor's note: To arrange interviews or request high-resolution photos, contact Chelsea Pillsbury at [email protected] or (904) 484-0226, or Patricia Carroll at (904) 484-0247 or [email protected].

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SOURCE The American Culinary Federation, Inc.