AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2009

Award Winners Announced at the 2009 Annual American Culinary Federation National Convention

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., July 15, 2009—The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF) honored chefs, culinary industry professionals and foodservice establishments at the 2009 ACF National Convention held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Fla., July 11-14.

Orlando was the location of the 2009 ACF National Convention, bringing hundreds of chefs, cooks, students and foodservice professionals to the Sunshine State. The national convention provided attendees with numerous opportunities to advance their professional development and enhance their culinary skills through informative workshops and seminars, cutting-edge demonstrations, a trade show featuring more than 100 exhibitors, national competitions and ACF’s annual national awards.

U.S.A.'s Chef of the Year™, sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions Joseph Leonardi, CEC; executive chef, Somerset Club, Boston; ACF Rhode Island Chapter

ACF National Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Splenda® Heather Hurlbert; executive pastry chef, Town & Country Club, Atlanta; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.

ACF National Chef Educator of the Year Timothy Bucci, CEC, CCE, CHE; associate professor, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill.; ACF Louis Joliet Chapter

ACF National Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc. Kelly Conwell; graduate, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kan.; ACF Greater City Chefs Association

ACF National Student Team Championship, sponsored by R.L. Schreiber, Inc. Chefs de Cuisine Association of Hawaii Honolulu, students at Kapi’olani Community College, Honolulu: Anna Hirano, Keaka Lee, Tate Nakano-Edwards, San Shoppell, Rena Suzuki and Frank Leake, CCC, CCE, coach.

Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Nestlé Professional Dale Miller, CMC, WGMC, AAC; executive chef/owner, Dale Miller, Albany, N.Y.; ACF Capital District—Central New York

Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award Wolfgang Bierer, CMPC, CEC, CCE, AAC; retired, Hilton Head Island, S.C.; ACF Chefs of the Low Country

Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by Pearson Education Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.: Jeremy Brown, Meredith Frank, Erin Hoffmann, Amanda Losh, Richard Mueller and Vicki Davenport, coach.

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President's Award Dawn Sweeney; president/chief executive officer, National Restaurant Association, , D.C.

ACF Leadership Award Paul Prudhomme, HAAC, HHOF; chef/owner, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, Magic Seasoning Blends, New Orleans; ACF New Orleans Chapter

ACF Industry Partnership Award Le Cordon Bleu, Secaucus, N.J.

Excellence in Education Award Grace Yek, CCC; chef-instructor, University of Cincinnati, Midwest Culinary Institute, Cincinnati

ACF Humanitarian of the Year Award Lynn Krause, CEPC, AAC; culinary instructor, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.

ACF President's Medallion Recipients Ronald Andrews, CEC; executive chef, Brays Island Plantation, Sheldon, S.C.; ACF Chefs of the Low Country Mickey Beriau, CEC, AAC; executive chef, White Cliffs Country Club, Plymouth, Mass.; ACF Cape Cod & The Islands Chefs Association L. Edwin Brown, HAAC, HHOF; ambassador, ACF, St. Augustine, Fla.; ACF Pittsburgh Chapter Louis Chatham, CEC, AAC; executive chef, PCI Gaming, Atmore, Ala.; ACF Choctaw Chapter Gary Fitting, CEC, CCE, CCA, AAC; chef-instructor, IUP Academy of Culinary Arts, Punxsutawney, Pa.; The Groundhog Chapter of the ACF Lorena Garcia; owner/executive chef, Elements, Miami; ACF National Chapter Jeremy Glas, CEC; executive chef, Wynkoop Brewing , Denver; ACF Colorado Chefs Association Fred Griesbach, CEC, AAC; sous chef, Sky Club, Plover, Wis.; ACF Middle Wisconsin Chefs Christopher Johns; executive chef, South Point Hotel Casino & Spa, Las Vegas; ACF Chefs of Las Vegas Kevin Keating, CEC, CCE; dean of culinary arts, Keiser University, Tallahassee, Fla.; ACF Tallahassee Area Chefs Association Brian Knecht, CEC, CCA, ACE, AAC; department chair and instructor, Sarasota County School Board, Sarasota, Fla.; ACF Sarasota Bay Chefs Association David Kramer; culinary-arts instructor, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill.; ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc. Keith Mandabach, CEC, AAC, Ed.D.; chef, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.; ACF Rio Grande Valley Chapter Christopher Misiak, CEC, CCE; executive chef, Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Mich.; ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association Patrick O’Connell; chef/proprietor, The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Va. Fawzi Ottman, CEC, AAC; executive chef, Odyssey Country Club, Tinley Park, Ill.; ACF Chefs of Cuisine Inc. James Paul, CSC, CCE; director of dining services, Chartwells–University of Nebraska, Kearney, Neb.; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc. Reimund Pitz, CEC, CCE, AAC; executive chef, Le Coq Au Vin, Orlando, Fla.; ACF Central Florida Chapter Michael Rand, HAAC; director of hospitality sales, Barber Foods, Portland, ; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc. Lucien Salama; president, NEWCHEF Fashion, Inc., Los Angeles Kathleen Salemno, HAAC; owner, K P Kitchen Crafts, Hatboro, Pa.; ACF Philadelphia Chapter Rudy Smith, CEC; corporate chef, Unilever Foodsolutions, Lisle, Ill.; ACF National Chapter David Turcotte, CEC, AAC; executive chef, U.S. Army, , Va.; Old Dominion ACF Chapter

2009 National Chapter of the Year ACF Pittsburgh Chapter

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Lifetime Achievement Award Noreen Kinney; president, Cordon d'Or - Gold Ribbon Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla.

ACF Achievement of Excellence Awards Casual Dining category Boca, Cincinnati Café in the Square, Buffalo, N.Y.

Culinary Program Full-Service Restaurant Facility category Riverside City College Culinary Academy, Riverside, Calif. Statler Erie Room Restaurant at Erie Community College, Buffalo, N.Y.

Fine Dining category All in Good Taste Productions, Pittsburgh Charlie Trotter’s, Chicago Daveed’s at 934, Cincinnati Deco, St. Augustine, Fla. The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif. Hartstone Inn, Camden, Maine The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Va. Le Coq Au Vin, Orlando, Fla. The Yorktowne Hotel, York, Pa.

Noncommercial Dining Establishment category The Seven Hills School, Cincinnati

Pastry Shop/Bakery category Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli, Cincinnati

Private Clubs or Resorts category Kenwood Country Club, Cincinnati

Chef & Child Foundation Awards Michael Ty Endowment Fund Joel Schaefer, CCC, manager of product development and special diets, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Chefs de Cuisine Association of Hawaii Honolulu

True Spirit Tony Hall, retired, Dayton, Ohio

Little Oscar Award Central: Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc., St. Louis Northeast: ACF Great Bay New Hampshire Chapter, Durham, N.H. Southeast: ACF Middle Tennessee Chapter, Nashville, Tenn. Western: ACF Washington State Chefs Association, Seattle

American Academy of Chefs (AAC) Awards Chair’s Medal John Minniti, CEC, AAC, HBOT; retired, Treasure Island, Fla.; ACF Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey

Joseph Amendola Award Gunther Heiland, CMPC, AAC; retired, Pottstown, Pa.; ACF Philadelphia Chapter

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Chef Good Taste Award John Bogacki, CEC, CCE, AAC; executive chef, Westwood Country Club, St. Louis; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.,

Sharing Culinary Traditions Award L. Timothy Ryan, CMC, AAC; president, The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, N.Y.; Mid Hudson Culinary Association

Lt. General John D. McLaughlin Award Brig. Gen. Jesse Cross; commanding general, U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and School, Fort Lee, Va.

Lawrence A. Conti, CEC, AAC, HOF, Chair’s Achievement Award Harry Hoffstadt, CEC, AAC, HOF; retired, Niles, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.

American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame Michel Escoffier; president, Foundation Auguste Escoffier, Villeneuve-Loubet, France Gerhart Koennecke, AAC (posthumously); Deptford, N.J.; ACF Philadelphia Chapter Phil Learned, CEC, AAC; retired, Andover, Maine; ACF Chapter of Northern New Hampshire John Minniti, CEC, AAC, HBOT; retired, Treasure Island, Fla.; ACF Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey Michael Rand, HAAC; director of hospitality sales, Barber Foods, Portland, Maine; ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter Inc.

American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame Celebrated Chef Patrick O’Connell; chef/proprietor, The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Va.

2009 American Academy of Chefs Fellows Scott Daniels, CEC, CCA; senior manager of dining and culinary services, Sodexo Senior Services Division, Wilmington, Del.; ACF First State Chefs Association Urs Emmenegger, CEC; executive chef, Entrée Preneur, San Diego; ACF Chefs & Culinarians of San Diego John Farris, CEC; food consultant, Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority, Lansing, Mich.; ACF Capital Professional Chefs & Cooks Association of Greater Lansing Gary Leach, CEC; executive chef, Centerplate at Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, Md.; Delmarva Chefs & Cooks Association Charles Mattocks, CEC, CCA; food service director, Carolinas Hospital System, Florence, S.C.; ACF Pee Dee Chapter Mark Prece Sr., CEC; corporate executive chef, American Italian Pasta Company, Kansas City, Mo.; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association Kyle Richardson, CEC, CCE; professor of culinary arts, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill.; ACF Louis Joliet Chapter Brian Sode, CEC; executive chef, The Bear’s Club, Jupiter, Fla.; ACF National Chapter J. Kevin Storm, CEC, CCA; executive chef, Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis; Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc. James Thomas, CEC; executive chef, Ocean Forest Golf Club, Sea Island, Ga.; ACF Golden Isles of Georgia Chapter Mark Warren, CEC; chief food management sergeant , U.S. Army European headquarters; Old Dominion ACF Chapter James White, CEC; director of dining services, Our Lady of the Angels Convent, Enfield, Conn.; Connecticut Chefs Association John Zelko, CEC; executive chef, Genesys Regional Medical Center, Grand Blanc, Mich.; ACF Flint/Saginaw Valley Chapter

2009 American Academy of Chefs Honorary Fellows Patrick Diethelm; director/head chef-instructor, DCT European Culinary & Pastry Chocolate Arts Center, Lucerne, Switzerland Robert Kinkead; executive chef/owner, Kinkead’s, Washington, D.C. Robert Nograd; dean emeritus, Johnson & Wales University, Miami Arthur Ritt; retired, Deerfield, Ill. Lucien Salama; president, NEWCHEF Fashion, Inc., Los Angeles Dawn Sweeney; president/chief executive officer, National Restaurant Association, Washington, D.C. -MORE-

Sponsors of the 2009 ACF National Convention are: Ajinomoto Food Ingredients LLC; American Lamb Board; Barber Foods; Barry Callebaut; Beef Products, Inc.; BelGioioso Cheese Inc.; Berkshire Pork Products, LLC; Bon Chef, Inc.; Bunge Oils; Butterball Farms, Inc.; Canada Cutlery Inc.; Casa DiLisio Products, Inc.; Chartwells; The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Inc.; Chicago School of Chocolate Molding; CleanFish; Cleveland Range, LLC; Contessa Premium Foods; The Culinary Institute of America; Custom Culinary, Inc.; Demeyere; Diamond Crystal; Dole Packaged Foods, LLC; Dow AgroSciences; Ecolab; Eggland's Best; GFF, Inc./Girard's Dressings; Gordon Food Service; Guittard Chocolate Co.; Hass Avocado Board; Hormel; i-COOK Professional; Indian Harvest; The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes; The Investing Chef; J.R. Simplot Company; Johnson & Wales University; Kendall College School of Culinary Arts; La Brea Bakery; Lavazza Italy’s Favourite Coffee; Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America; Nestlé Professional; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc.; Nueske's Applewood Smoked Meats; Pasta CHEF®; Pearson Education; Plugra; RC Fine Foods; Riviana Foods Inc.; R.L. Schreiber, Inc.; S & D Coffee; San Jamar; Saputo Cheese; Schwan’s Food Service; Splenda®; Tyson Food Service; Unilever Foodsolutions; U.S. Foodservice; Victorinox Commercial Cutlery; Vita-Mix Corp.; The Vollrath Company, LLC; and Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 22,000 members spanning 230 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States. 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.

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TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW OR FOR HIGH-RES PHOTOS, CONTACT LEAH CRAIG AT (800) 624-9458 EXT. 113, OR PATRICIA CARROLL AT EXT. 147. EMAIL [email protected] OR [email protected].