American Culinary Federation
Encyclopedia
The American Culinary Federation (ACF) was established in 1929 and is the largest professional chefs' organization in North America
.
ACF, which was the progeny of the combined visions of three chefs' associations in New York
, comprises more than 22,000 members in 230 chapters across the United States
, and is known as the authority on cooking
in America. Its mission is to make a positive difference for culinarians through education
, apprenticeship
and certification
, while creating a fraternal bond of respect and integrity among culinarians everywhere. One of ACF's defining historical moments remains the ACF-led initiative that resulted in the upgrade of the definition of chef
from domestic to professional in 1976. The ACF is a member of the World Association of Chefs Societies
.
s are single events taking place at ACF chapters. Whereas other student
and professional
competitions that include individual and team events engage in a rigorous qualifying process that begins at the local ACF chapter level, advances at the ACF Regional Conferences and culminates with the finals at the ACF National Convention. Regardless of the level, the purpose is the same-to continually raise the standards of culinary excellence in the USA while promoting camaraderie and educational opportunities among culinary professionals.
One of the many ACF Culinary competitions is the ACF Pastry Chef of the Year. The ACF Pastry Chef of the Year Award recognizes a pastry chef who has displayed a passion for the craft, has an accomplished reputation in the pastry field and has helped educate others by sharing skills and knowledge. Winners for past years include:
2009
Southeast - * Heather Hurlbert
Central - Ford Culbertson
Northeast - Megan Ketover, CPC
Western - Eric Phillips, CEPC
2008
Central - * R. Andrew Chlebana, II, CEPC
Northeast - Kathleen Kessler
Southeast - Vanessa Haden, CPC
Western - Loïc Laffargue
2007
Northeast - * Patricia Nash
Central - Michelle Garcia
Southeast - Natasha Capper, CEPC
Western - Loan Co
2006
Southeast - * Steven Rujak
Central - Julie Adauto
Northeast - Biago Settepani
Western - Herschel “Mickey” Harden IV
2005
Central - * Darrin Aoyama, CEPC
Northeast - Jennifer Kopp CEPC
Southeast - Charles Rosselli
Western - Brenda L. Hitchins
2004
Northeast - * Thomas Vaccaro, CEPC
Central - Tariq Hanna
Southeast - Stefan Riemer
Western - John Hui, CEPC
in preschool and elementary school
children", as well as fight against childhood obesity
. Children benefit from the financial support which the foundation gives to other organizations which support childhood nutrition and obesity causes. They also support a yearly Chef & Child Day, where the ACF chapters from across the United States participate in local and national events to support children's causes.
The American Culinary Federation Chef & Child Foundation, Inc., focuses on the nutritional development of all of America
's children in all economic segments. All children should learn how to cook and choose healthy foods. With many children living in homes with a single parent or with both parents working, children are cooking for their little brothers and sisters, and even for themselves and their parents.
in major national and international culinary competitions. ACF Culinary Team USA comprises one national team of six members, two regional
teams of five members each, and a youth
team of five members less than 23 years old. The regional
teams, considered a training ground for the national team, work with and assist the national team when they are not competing. ACF Culinary Team USA competes in many competition
s including three major international culinary competitions: International Exhibition of Culinary Art (IKA)
also known as the "Culinary Olympics", The American Culinary Classic, and Culinary World Cup.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
ACF, which was the progeny of the combined visions of three chefs' associations in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, comprises more than 22,000 members in 230 chapters across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is known as the authority on cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
in America. Its mission is to make a positive difference for culinarians through education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
and certification
Certification
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit...
, while creating a fraternal bond of respect and integrity among culinarians everywhere. One of ACF's defining historical moments remains the ACF-led initiative that resulted in the upgrade of the definition of chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
from domestic to professional in 1976. The ACF is a member of the World Association of Chefs Societies
World Association of Chefs Societies
The World Association of Chefs' Societies , is a global network of chefs associations first founded in October 1928 at the Sorbonne in Paris. At that first congress there were 65 delegates from 17 countries, representing 36 national and international associations, and the venerable August Escoffier...
.
Culinary competitions
Culinary Competitions are a vital and evolving branch of the American Culinary Federation. Some competitionCompetition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
s are single events taking place at ACF chapters. Whereas other student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
and professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
competitions that include individual and team events engage in a rigorous qualifying process that begins at the local ACF chapter level, advances at the ACF Regional Conferences and culminates with the finals at the ACF National Convention. Regardless of the level, the purpose is the same-to continually raise the standards of culinary excellence in the USA while promoting camaraderie and educational opportunities among culinary professionals.
One of the many ACF Culinary competitions is the ACF Pastry Chef of the Year. The ACF Pastry Chef of the Year Award recognizes a pastry chef who has displayed a passion for the craft, has an accomplished reputation in the pastry field and has helped educate others by sharing skills and knowledge. Winners for past years include:
2009
Southeast - * Heather Hurlbert
Central - Ford Culbertson
Northeast - Megan Ketover, CPC
Western - Eric Phillips, CEPC
2008
Central - * R. Andrew Chlebana, II, CEPC
Northeast - Kathleen Kessler
Southeast - Vanessa Haden, CPC
Western - Loïc Laffargue
2007
Northeast - * Patricia Nash
Central - Michelle Garcia
Southeast - Natasha Capper, CEPC
Western - Loan Co
2006
Southeast - * Steven Rujak
Central - Julie Adauto
Northeast - Biago Settepani
Western - Herschel “Mickey” Harden IV
2005
Central - * Darrin Aoyama, CEPC
Northeast - Jennifer Kopp CEPC
Southeast - Charles Rosselli
Western - Brenda L. Hitchins
2004
Northeast - * Thomas Vaccaro, CEPC
Central - Tariq Hanna
Tariq Hanna
Tariq Hanna is Executive Pastry Chef and partner of the Sucré dessert boutique in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was born and raised in Nigeria, and after attending boarding school in England, Tariq moved to the United States to attend Lawrence Technical University in Detroit, Michigan...
Southeast - Stefan Riemer
Western - John Hui, CEPC
American Culinary Federation: Chef & Child Foundation
Founded in 1989 The Chef & Child Foundation seeks to "foster, promote, encourage and stimulate an awareness of proper nutritionNutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
in preschool and elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
children", as well as fight against childhood obesity
Childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. As methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI. Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects...
. Children benefit from the financial support which the foundation gives to other organizations which support childhood nutrition and obesity causes. They also support a yearly Chef & Child Day, where the ACF chapters from across the United States participate in local and national events to support children's causes.
The American Culinary Federation Chef & Child Foundation, Inc., focuses on the nutritional development of all of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's children in all economic segments. All children should learn how to cook and choose healthy foods. With many children living in homes with a single parent or with both parents working, children are cooking for their little brothers and sisters, and even for themselves and their parents.
ACF Culinary Team USA
ACF Culinary Team USA, a program of the American Culinary Federation (ACF), is the official representative team of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in major national and international culinary competitions. ACF Culinary Team USA comprises one national team of six members, two regional
Régional
Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, or Régional for short, is a subsidiary airline wholly owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Bordeaux to 49 airports in Europe. The airline operates in Air France livery, retaining its name in small titles and logo on...
teams of five members each, and a youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
team of five members less than 23 years old. The regional
Régional
Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, or Régional for short, is a subsidiary airline wholly owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Bordeaux to 49 airports in Europe. The airline operates in Air France livery, retaining its name in small titles and logo on...
teams, considered a training ground for the national team, work with and assist the national team when they are not competing. ACF Culinary Team USA competes in many competition
Competition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
s including three major international culinary competitions: International Exhibition of Culinary Art (IKA)
International Exhibition of Culinary Art
The International Exhibition of Culinary Art termed the Culinary Olympics, is a quadrennial chef competition, and the biggest culinary exhibition in the world...
also known as the "Culinary Olympics", The American Culinary Classic, and Culinary World Cup.
List of ACF past presidents
- 2009–Present Michael Ty, CEC, AAC
- John Kinsella, CMC, CCE, AAC
- Edward G. Leonard, CMC, AAC
- Noel Cullen, CMC, AAC
- Reimund Pitz, CEC, CCE, AAC
- Tim Ryan, CMC, AAC
- John Folse, CEC, AAC
- Michael Ty, CEC, AAC
- Keith Keogh, CEC, AAC
- Jack F. Braun, CEC, AAC
- Baron H. Galand, CEC, AAC
- Ferdinand E. Metz, CMC, AAC
- Richard Bosnjak, CEC, AAC
- Amato Ferrero, AAC
- Jack L. Sullivan, AAC
- John Bandera, CEC, AAC
- Willy Rossel, AAC
- C. Orby Anderson, AAC
- Peter Berrini
- Eugene Ertle
- Pierre Berard
- Paul Laesecke, AAC
- Charles Scotto
External links
- ACF home page
- ACF Culinary Competitions Calendar
- American Culinary Federation Chef & Child Foundation
Works cited
- American Culinary Federation, (2007) "ACF Culinary Competitions ...The Ultimate Challenge" Retrieved on April 6, 2007 from http://acfchefs.org/Content/Events/Competitions/default.htm
- American Culinary Federation, (2007) "American Culinary Chef & Child Foundation" Retrieved on April 6, 2007 from http://acfchefs.org/Content/ACFPrograms/ChefandChild/default.htm
- American Culinary Federation, (2007) "Office of the President" Retrieved on April 6, 2007 from http://acfcm5.advsolconsulting.net/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Office_of_the_President&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=982
- Leonard, Edward G., American Culinary Federation’s Guide to Culinary Competitions. New York: Wiley, 2005
- Michael Baskette and Brad Barnes., The American Culinary Federation's Guide to Culinary Certification. New York: Wiley, 2005